Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson. Christopher Creveling-USA TODAY Sports

Jazz HC had great message for Jordan Clarkson amid triple-double pursuit

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Renzo Pocholo Salao | Last updated 1/2/24

Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy did not want to be a buzzkill Monday as Jordan Clarkson chased history. Hardy just wanted his player to do it faster.

Clarkson was chasing the Jazz’s first regular season triple-double in 16 years during the Jazz’s 127-90 win over the Dallas Mavericks at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Clarkson entered the fourth quarter with 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists.

The former Sixth Man of the Year got the assists he needed by the 7:48 mark. However, the rebounds proved to be a greater challenge. Clarkson was still short a rebound with under 4 minutes to play, which led to a tremendous soundbite from Hardy during a timeout.

“Go get a rebound so I can sit your a– down. God d—-t,” Hardy urged the Jazz guard (profanity edited by LBS).

W Will Hardy pic.twitter.com/tEkAIScUrw

— LeHarden James‏ً (@Harden4threee) January 2, 2024

Clarkson finally got one at the 2:28 mark and immediately called timeout.

1) the reaction to jordan clarkson getting the jazz's first triple-double since carlos boozer in february 2008 was super cool

2) luka samanic getting out of the way for jc to grab that board was GREAT pic.twitter.com/4tANXJfidO

— Dan Favale (@danfavale) January 2, 2024

The 31-year-old’s final stat line credited him with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists.

Clarkson ended the Jazz’s triple-double drought that lasted 1,256 games over 16 seasons — the longest stretch in NBA history. The last regular season triple-double by a Jazz player was accomplished by Carlos Boozer all the way back in February 2008.

The Jazz power forward tallied 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists on Feb. 13 in a 19-point win over a Seattle SuperSonics team that featured a rookie Kevin Durant.

Last Utah Jazz Triple Double
FEB. 13, 2008 – Carlos Boozer at Seattle
SINCE
5,800 Days
1,256 Jazz Games
1,204 NBA Triple-Doubles
165 NBA players recorded Triple-Double

Kevin Durant played for the Seattle Supersonics

— David Locke (@DLocke09) January 2, 2024

Hardy admitted after the game that he did not want “to mess up a good time” by subbing Clarkson out early. The young coach was well aware that the fans wanted Clarkson to achieve the feat as well.

Will Hardy on keeping Clarkson in: "I said get a rebound and call timeout immediately. I'm obviously not here to mess up a good time. I understand that I would have been maybe the most hated man in the building if I subbed him out."

— Ryan Miller (@millerjryan) January 2, 2024

The Jazz veteran played 28 total minutes — much more than Hardy would’ve preferred in a massive blowout.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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