The Utah Jazz is one of those improving teams going without a championship every year. Finishing the highest in the western conference last season, Jazz is expected to be the title contender for the 2021-22 season.
The Jazz draftee, Donovan Mitchell was key to Utah’s brilliance in the previous season. His dominance helped Jazz record 52-20 in the regular season and topping the chart that included teams like Lakers, Warriors, and Clippers. After defeating Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the 2021 postseason, Utah Jazz lost 4-2 to the Clippers in the conference semifinals.
In the upcoming season, Utah’s consistent starter pack will be going in together for the third consecutive year. Led by Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, let’s take a look at Utah Jazz’s predicted starting lineup for the 2021-22 season.
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Frontcourt starters for Utah Jazz
Royce O’Neal (Power Forward)
While Royce O’Neal isn’t the ideal shooter for Jazz, his scoring potential increased during the previous season. O’Neal is the one who’s found a bit on every front of the game. He recently scored a double-double in a second-round loss to Clippers. After Gobert, O’Neal stands tall on Utah’s defensive end.
Bojan Bogdanovic (Shooting Forward)
The star shooting forward Bogdanovic is expected to be exceptional on the offense for the upcoming season. One of the best shooters for Jazz, the Croatian player dominated the defense against 2-time MVP Kawhi Leonard in the 2021 playoffs. He’s stepping closer to being a good defender as well that makes him a complete package for the team.
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Rudy Gobert (Center)
The 2021 Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert is clearly the crucial piece in Utah’s success. Last season, Gobert beat Draymond Green and Ben Simmons to top the defense list of the season and became the fourth player in NBA history to win the award three times. His rebounding and defending abilities are a constant victory for Utah jazz. The western contenders will need Gobert in the healthy form to clinch the title. In December 2020, he signed a five-year $205 million contract extension with Jazz.
Backcourt starting lineup
Donovan Mitchell (Shooting Guard)
After two years of phenomenal postseasons, Donovan Mitchell will be looking to catch a bigger fish next season. Mitchell was the reason for Utah’s excellent record during the regular season. He averaged 32.3 points and 5.5 assists in 10 playoff games while dropping 43.5 percent from beyond the arc. The 2-time All-star is heading into his fifth NBA season. His offensive dominance will play a key role in the upcoming season for Utah Jazz.
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Mike Conley Jr. (Point Guard)
Mike Conley, the veteran point guard, has returned to Jazz after accepting a three-year $72.5 million contract in free agency. Conley hasn’t been named as an all-star yet, however, his presence in Utah’s starting lineup is a necessity. Jazz fans are yet to see what he brings to the table in 2021-22.
Utah Jazz’s star players Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert will be starting with their 5-year contracts in the upcoming season, do you think they can win it this time?
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