Jazz Take Big Step Forward Simply By Securing League’s Worst Record

After finishing closer to the middle of the lottery in recent years, the Jazz ended the 2024-25 campaign with the league’s worst record, securing the best odds for the No. 1 overall pick. For a franchise still searching for a long-term centerpiece, that outcome represents a key step forward.

While the focus remained on draft positioning, the team saw encouraging development from a handful of young players. Rookie point guard Isaiah Collier, the 29th pick in last year’s draft, emerged as a capable distributor in the second half of the season. From Jan. 4 onward, Collier averaged 7.8 assists per game — sixth-most in the NBA over that span, trailing only established stars like Tyrese Haliburton and Trae Young while edging out the likes of LeBron James and Cade Cunningham.

Second-year forward Brice Sensabaugh also showed growth, particularly as a perimeter threat. He finished the season shooting over 40% from three-point range on more than five attempts per game, a mark matched by only 21 other players across the league.

In addition to Collier and Sensabaugh, center Kyle Filipowski — the 32nd overall pick in the 2024 draft — showed flashes of two-way potential, giving Utah another intriguing developmental piece.

The Jazz still lack a foundational star, but their recent drafts have begun to yield useful contributors on the margins. With strong lottery odds and a handful of promising young players in place, the organization enters the offseason with a clearer path toward long-term building.