Hawaii
Why did the Utah Jazz go to Hawaii for training camp?
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LAIE, Hawaii — Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson stood in a line doing their best attempt at a hula dance. It was a scene that looked much more like the middle of a summer vacation (especially with Kessler’s Aloha shirt) than a training ground.
Which begs the question: Why come to Hawaii to get ready for the season? The answer isn’t all that complicated.
“The Clippers, obviously, had something scheduled out here and they needed a ‘partner’ to play the game out here,” said Jazz coach Will Hardy, who admitted he wasn’t privy to all the details. “So I think getting the game out here is what solidified us making the decision to come.”
The Clippers needed a team to play on Oahu, the Jazz had some connections with BYU-Hawaii, and suddenly a week-long training camp in paradise made some sense. There’s also the added bonus that the revenue of Sunday’s preseason opener (7 p.m. MDT, KJZZ) will go to the Maui Strong Fund.
According to Sexton, it doesn’t really matter where practice is located. It could be the Jazz’s practice facility, a church gym, a playground or on the North Shore of Oahu, “it’s basketball.”
“I do the same routine, I eat the same things, I just take care of my body the same way, so it’s pretty much no different,” Sexton said.
Hardy, though, does see a benefit of getting away from Salt Lake City for training camp.
“Everybody has a lot of responsibilities away from basketball when you’re in your home market. I think this gives us an opportunity to really spend a lot of time together as a group,” Hardy said.
He mentioned the random hangouts in the hotel, the meet ups at the restaurant or by the pool. Those are moments that wouldn’t happen if everyone was just returning home after practice each day. Friendships form, relationships are built — that helps a team become a team.
“I think that’s probably the biggest benefit to doing something like this,” Hardy said.
Those bonds off the court usually lead to better chemistry on it.
“My first training camp (that’s) somewhere else than the actual city, so it still feels a little different,” Lauri Markkanen said. “But it’s fun, we’re enjoying it. Just being able to hang out with the teammates. I think that’s gonna help in the long run on the court.”
When it comes to on-court activities, the Jazz’s training camp schedule has been relatively light. Hardy acknowledged it’s a bit strange to only have such few practices before playing a game, but thinks the schedule will ultimately work out in the Jazz’s favor
He sees the Oahu trip as phase one of training camp, with phase two coming after they get back to Utah after a preseason game in Seattle next Tuesday.
“We have a nice four day period where we can really dig in at that point,” Hardy said. “And we’ll have enough film having seen two games and have a nice chunk of practice to sort of make some adjustments and tweaks. … I think it works out pretty well.”
The players certainly aren’t complaining.