SALT LAKE CITY — After 46 years, Dan Roberts is reflecting on his time as the public address announcer for the Utah Jazz after his last season.

With the NBA draft lottery approaching, the Utah Jazz have a decent shot at the number one pick, and fans are hoping for a better year next season.

The Delta Center sits quietly as renovations for the next season of hockey and basketball are well underway in the warm spring air. Soon, spring will turn to summer, and summer will turn to fall, signaling yet another season of Jazz basketball awaiting on the other side.

However, after 46 years, there will be one thing different: A voice that fans have heard since day one.

Dan Roberts, the long-time public address announcer for the Utah Jazz, is retiring.

“I donated a lot of my life to this situation, and I’m not unhappy with a moment of it,” Roberts said.

Roberts has been a public address announcer for five decades.

“Let’s go back to day one with my first game with the ABA, the Utah Stars. That was in the old building, the Old Salt Palace, which is long ago and far away. But that’s where it all began,” he explained.

When the Stars left in 1975, he kept busy, but then a little team called the Jazz came to town.

“I was invited for auditions and stuff like that,” Roberts said.

And the rest is history, starting in 1978 with their first game.

“Milwaukee came in, we had a crowd of about 8,000 or so, if that, and they beat the crap out of us,” Roberts said. “Frank [Layden] would call people, invite them to come to the games. You let us know when you can get here and that’s when we’ll start. Because it was the start, and it was a rough start, but slowly but surely it caught on.”

Even early on, Roberts said there were a few nerves starting out. Roberts Roberts confidently stated,stated,Roberts confidently stated,

“My presentation was a little bit more electric than it is today,” he admitted. “There was more energy coming out of me because of that, and that was a way of distributing the potential fear… If you were to see film from back then, I had longer hair and a beard and stuff.”

Then there’s that famous saying — if you’ve been a Jazz fan long enough, you know which one I mean.

WATCH BELOW: How Roberts’ famous catch phrase “How ‘bout this Jazz” came to be

Story behind the saying

When asked about his favorite time period in his tenure, Roberts replied: “Yeah, the Karl and John years. The two of them took us to two championship series. I mean, that was part of my life as well. The way they played, the way John fed Carl, the way Carl scored, it was just the highlight of what was going on.”

Now, he’s a seasoned pro.

“46 years will do that to you,” he said, with that even being an NBA record.

“Nobody’s going to come up with 46 years too much, in my opinion. It should be a fairly safe record,” Roberts confidently stated, .

As his final season wound down, he expressed optimism for the future of the team he has served for so many years.

“They’ll always be popular. It’s just going to grow and grow and grow, basically.”

And one thing’s for certain: The team he loves loves him back tenfold.

“What would your message be to the fans who have watched you and heard you over so many years?” I asked him.

Roberts responded: “Thank you. Thank you for listening. Thank you for letting me motivate you. Thank you for letting me scream in front of you. Thank you for not getting angry with my screw-ups every now and then.”

“You know, longest tenured announcer in the league, that’s OK. I can live with that. That’s an accomplishment.”

The NBA Draft Lottery is right around the corner, causing the anticipation and anxiety to spread like a plague across the Salt Lake Valley. It is a pivotal moment in Utah Jazz franchise history. A chance to land a future Hall of Famer and a true potential championship caliber player in Cooper Flagg, or it is where we settle for a swing pick if we fall to 5.

Now, all we can do is wait, but what we do know is that we have another 1st round pick already set in stone, slotted at pick 21. There is plenty of talent in the draft, and the Utah Jazz have proven to be successful in selecting with later picks. From John Stockton (pick 16) to Rudy Gobert (pick 27) and more recently the promising talent in Isaiah Collier (29th) and Kyle Filipowski (32nd) — despite organizational changes — the Jazz have found talent, capitalizing on other teams’ scouting blunders.

Can the Jazz do it again this year with the 21st pick in the 2025 NBA Draft? Here are my personal top 3 picks the Utah Jazz should target at 21 (if available)!

1 – Labaron Philon | G | Alabama | 6’4 |

My Ranking: 6th | ESPN’s Ranking: 43rd

Stats: 10.6 PPG | 3.8 APG | 3.3 RPG | 1.4 SPG | 45.2% FG | 31.5% 3FG | 76.7 FT%
Player Comparisons: Rajon Rondo / Jrue Holiday / Rod Strickland / Jose Alverado

First things first, I have got to take some shots at ESPN and Jonathan Givony. Ranking Labaron Philon 43rd in their latest big board is a complete joke. He was very impactful for the Crimson Tide this whole season and played a big role in taking their team to the Elite 8 — they lost to Cooper Flagg and the rest of the Blue Devils. After their veteran guard, Latrell Wrightsell Jr, went down with a ruptured Achilles tendon in the first month of play, Labaron Philon came in and filled that secondary ball handler role next to Sears, where they won 15 of their next 16 games. I will touch on more of what Philon can do, but I just have to say that ESPN and media boards in general have criminally underrated Labaron to the point where I question credibility. 43rd, ha.

Labaron Philon is a defensive playmaker on one side of the court, and on the other, he is a pass-first, tempo-pushing point guard with a developing shot. Out of all of the draft-eligible freshmen, he is top 3 in assist-to-turnover ratio (A:TO), and of those 3, he is the tallest who also has the best defensive metrics. As I stated earlier, the shot is developing. After a rough start to the year in shooting the three-ball and free throws, Labaron Philon crawled his way back into the safe zone for prospect shooting indicators for a guard (>30% from 3 and a >75% FT). Other guards that had close to the same shooting indicators are Bradley Beal, John Wall, Anthony Edwards, Marcus Smart, Donovan Mitchell, Collin Sexton, and more. I am very optimistic that Philon will become a league-average shooter with time and repetitions. One of my favorite things about Philon is the pace at which he plays, it is slow and methodical. He reads the offense very well, he knows when to attack, and he knows where/when to make the right pass. Because he plays at such a methodical pace, it allows his teammates to run their sets cleaner, ultimately leading to the best possible look.

This draft cycle, I have been deeply valuing the importance of the ability to scale down. In a competitive team construct, being able to scale down and play off the ball has become vital to winning, especially for a guard and especially in the playoffs. Labaron Philon was in the perfect setting for practicing that skill as he played alongside Alabama star and First-Team All-American, Mark Sears. He was able to move off the ball, whether that be spotting up, cutting to the basket, or being in a position to make the quick extra pass for an open look. Philon embodied being a team player.

Why Utah?

I get the confusion; we already have a guard-heavy roster, so why would we want more? I may be on a small island when it comes to our young guards, but I am not bought in on any of our guards long-term. Isaiah Collier had a year full of ups and downs; he broke the Utah Jazz total assist record (he surpassed John Stockton), but then he shot 24.9% from 3 and 68.2% from the FT line — those percentages are not positive indicators at all that he will be a consistent league average shooter, and a smaller, non-shooting guard does not sound very appealing to me. Keyonte George hasn’t shown much outside of being a potential scorer off the bench, but he will still likely be inconsistent and a defensive liability in bigger games.

He is exactly who I wanted Sexton to be, though Sexton is an electric 3-level scorer that Philon may not reach, but Philon embodies an impact driving, more old-school/traditional scrappy guard that are guys that I fall in love with almost every draft cycle (Jalen Suggs, Cason Wallace, and Stephon Castle — I am also a huge Andrew Nembhard fan). Philon is a perfect pick-and-roll guy with any type of big man. If we can get a well-rounded guard at pick 21 who impacts winning on a higher level, then I am picking them 10 times out of 10.

2 – Carter Bryant | F | Arizona | 6’8 |

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My Ranking: 14th | ESPN’s Ranking: 18th

Stats: 6.5 PPG | 4.1 RPG | 1.0 APG | 1.9 STK/G | 46% FG | 37.1 3FG
NBA Comparisons: Jeff Green, Trevor Ariza, Rui Hachimura, Dorian Finney-Smith, Mikal Bridges

Carter Bryant is a swing pick that has shown plenty of production to be excited about. He is probably the 3rd best defender out of all freshmen in the draft behind Cooper Flagg and VJ Edgecombe, nabbing a cumulative stock% of 8.6% (really good for a forward). He has an NBA-ready body with great foot speed, allowing him to keep up with quick offensive players on defense, and the athleticism to not only contest and swat shots, but offensively, he is a gifted cutter and mover off the ball. He has a relatively safe floor (ideally) as a 3&D wing with positional size, but we really did not see what he could do with the ball in his hands because of how guard-dominant Arizona was this year. Bryant totaled a usage rate of 16%, which is hardly anything — 92.3% of his made 3’s were assisted this year. What this entails is that a team could/probably fall in love with him after they bring him out for workouts. If Carter Bryant develops a game where he can create his own shot, then you are looking at a scary good player who could easily bring back top 5-10 value in the entire draft class.

Again, a player that is scalable. Carter Bryant doesn’t need to dominate the ball to be impactful, and it reflects in his production/numbers.

Why Utah?

The Utah Jazz already have a logjam at the forward position as well with the likes of Lauri Markkanen, Kyle Filipowski, Taylor Hendricks, maybe Cooper Flagg if we are lucky, and, depending on what position you believe he is, Cody Williams. However, the Utah Jazz have been the worst defensive team in the league for 2 straight seasons. If they want to get better in that area, they’d better start adding some defensive pieces to the roster, and Carter Bryant would be a great piece to that puzzle.

Carter Bryant would likely be starting in the G-League for the first part of the year if we were to draft him, much like what we did with Taylor Hendricks.

3 – Ryan Kalkbrenner | C | Creighton | 7’1

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My Ranking: 18th | ESPN’s Ranking: 33rd

Stats: 19.2 PPG | 8.7 RPG | 1.5 APG | 2.7 BPG | 65.3% FG | 34.4% 3FG
NBA Comparisons: Brook Lopez / Jakob Poeltl / Donovan Clingan / Zach Edey

Despite his age, Ryan Kalkbrenner is one of the most seasoned and productive big men in the draft. A four-year anchor for Creighton and a multiple-time Defensive Player of the Year in the Big East, Kalkbrenner brings elite shot-blocking instincts, strong fundamentals, and the kind of rim deterrence that instantly improves a team’s backline defense.

At 7’1” with a 7’5” -ish wingspan, he’s an imposing interior presence who doesn’t chase blocks recklessly — he stays vertical, rotates early, and clogs the paint without fouling. He’s a classic drop-coverage center who excels at funneling drivers into tough finishes.

Offensively, Kalkbrenner is efficient, physical, and poised. He shot over 65% from the field, thriving in pick-and-roll situations, as a lob target, and with short post hooks. But what really elevates his profile in a modern NBA context is his developing ability to space the floor. His 34.4% mark from three — on low volume but growing confidence — hints at legit pick-and-pop potential.

The value of a center who can shoot cannot be overstated. It unclogs driving lanes, keeps defenders honest in ball screens, and forces opposing bigs out of the paint. In a league increasingly reliant on spacing, a stretch five — even in a backup role — adds valuable lineup versatility.

Beyond scoring, Kalkbrenner is also a highly connective player. He doesn’t force touches, moves the ball quickly, and sets hard screens that open up teammates. He won’t rack up assists, but he plays within the flow of the offense and rarely makes mistakes. His processing speed and understanding of team basketball make him a low-usage, high-impact player, particularly for second units.

Why Utah?

Walker Kessler remains a strong piece for Utah’s frontcourt — an elite shot-blocker in his own right with real starter upside. But behind him, there’s room for a reliable, experienced backup who won’t disrupt the team’s identity when he checks in. Kalkbrenner fills that role seamlessly.

As a second-unit anchor, he’d bring consistent interior defense and a steady offensive presence, allowing Utah to maintain rim protection while adding more floor spacing and offensive polish than typical bench bigs. His ability to hit open threes and keep the ball moving fits well with Utah’s modern approach and young core.

Utah’s coaching staff could utilize Kalkbrenner to run second-unit pick-and-pops, giving guards space to operate while providing a safety valve around the rim. His plug-and-play skill set, experience, and floor-spacing potential make him one of the safest big men in the class, especially for teams seeking a specialized role rather than a star.

I also believe that adding a floor spacing big man to the team would allow the young guys to flourish, especially Isaiah Collier — the pick-and-pop game between the two would be incredible.

MORE PROSPECT EVALUATIONS FOR PICK 21 WILL BE ON THE WAY SOON!

Honorable Mentions (I don’t think they will fall to us):
-Collin Murray-Boyles
-Asa Newell
-Noa Essengue

I just want to wish everyone good luck in the lottery tomorrow. I am very scared, but it is out of our control (and out of the front office’s control). It is just basketball at the end of the day. May the odds be ever in our favor. GOOD LUCK!!!

The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery results will be revealed on Monday, May 12th, at 5 p.m. MT. As you all know, this will be a monumental evening for the Utah Jazz and what the future of Jazz basketball could look like. 

Armed with the maximum 14% odds of getting the first pick, the Jazz are hoping for some serious luck. They’re one of the few teams that have never picked first in the draft, something they’re hoping changes soon.

The reality of the lottery is that the Jazz have a realistic chance of landing anywhere in the first five picks of this draft. So, just how big are the drop-offs between each pick? Let’s talk about it.

The Jazz getting the first overall pick in this draft would be one of the most exciting events in this franchise’s history. For those who have been living under a rock, Cooper Flagg is a terrific prospect. He’s truly one of the best basketball prospects to come through the ranks in the past twenty years.

Aside from the short-term excitement of landing Flagg, it would bring a lot of long-term hope to a Jazz team that needs it. While they’ve constantly been successful, the Jazz have lacked a guy capable of being the best player on a championship team since Karl Malone left. While there’s no guarantee Flagg becomes that guy, you’d at least have hope.

While Flagg is the grand prize, there are two consolation prizes in this draft class for me. Dylan Harper, the consensus number two overall pick, is certainly one of them. He’s a jumbo guard who can get to the rim at will and is continuing to develop as a playmaker and shooter. He’d give the Jazz a foundational guard to build their offense around for years to come.

Next, Ace Bailey, a polarizing eighteen-year-old prospect, is one of the most gifted shotmakers you’ll ever find. With excellent size and athleticism on the wing, Bailey would bring all the tools and unique scoring upside to be a perennial all-star if he hits his ceiling. With Will Hardy’s creative offensive schemes, the Jazz and Bailey seem like a great match.

Getting either of the Rutgers prospects would be a successful outcome to get this team rolling towards a bright future.

Every year, some prospects prove they should have gone earlier than they did. There is undoubtedly going to be talent on the board if the Jazz slide to fourth or fifth in the standings, but after the worst season in franchise history, it would be a disappointment.

VJ Edgecombe and Tre Johnson are the widely projected picks in this range. While they’re both shooting guards, they are vastly different players.

Edgecombe is an otherworldly athlete who defends and has a budding offensive game. Johnson is a pure scorer who can fill it up from the perimeter in bunches. While either would instantly become the best prospect on the team, neither projects to be a franchise-changing talent, something the Jazz desperately need.

While the Jazz will likely continue to be patient with their rebuild, sliding out of the top three will all but force the team to turn their eyes toward the 2026 NBA Draft in hopes of finding a foundational player then.

Here’s to hoping the odds are in our favor.