It feels like the Utah Jazz have been rebuilding for a decade at this point. The franchise has been towards the bottom of the Western Conference for the last few years. This is despite having players like Lauri Markkanen on the roster, and Jazz head coach Will Hardy seemingly has had enough.
The Jazz were blown out by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. The final score was 131-101, and the game was pretty much lost in the first quarter. A clip of Hardy during one of the timeouts from the game has gone viral, with him essentially cursing the team out for their play.
MORE: NBA insider points out Steve Kerr’s main problem with Jonathan Kuminga
“I’m tired of f***ing doing this every game. F***ing play harder,” Hardy can be seen telling his players during a timeout. Considering that only two of the team’s starters finished the game in double digits, it’s easy to see where Hardy’s frustrations are coming from.
Utah now has an 8-15 record and seems lottery-bound in a stacked Western Conference once again. Tanking makes sense to an extent, but the team has to start trying to win soon. Hardy seems like he’s motivated to do that, but it remains to be seen if the players will buy in.
Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy watches from the bench against the New York Knicks. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The Jazz have lost seven out of their last 10 games. They face the Memphis Grizzlies in their next NBA clash in what will be a must-win game in the eyes of the coach. The players will want to step up and deliver, too, after being essentially humiliated following the viral clip.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —
WEEKEND ROUNDUP: College Football Playoff set, bowl season on verge of extinction, and more
NFL: Head coaches on hot seat heading into Week 15 of NFL season
CFB: 2025 College Football Playoff bracket revealed: Top 12 seeds selected
NBA: Bettor emotional after losing big money on insane LeBron James streak
VIRAL: Saquon Barkley baffled after Philadelphia Eagles introduce ‘positivity’ Easter Bunny