SALT LAKE CITY \u2013\u00a0The Utah Jazz enter the 2025-26 season in full-on rebuild mode with eight players under contract, 22 years of age or younger, who are looking to be rotation regulars for Will Hardy.<\/p>\n
Utah can already pencil former All-Star Lauri Markkanen and budding top-ten center Walker Kessler into the starting lineup for 30+ minutes a night whenever healthy. Behind them, veteran newcomers Jusuf Nurki\u0107<\/a>, Kyle Anderson<\/a>, and Georges Niang<\/a> are vying for playing time.<\/p>\n The young players are indeed the future of the franchise, but on-court production, not lofty draft status or contract size, will determine playing time when the regular season begins later this month.<\/p>\n RELATED: What Does Will Hardy Want To See From Jazz Rookie Ace Bailey?<\/a><\/p>\n first (preseason) road trip for the rooks, they grow up so fast \ud83e\udd79 #TakeNote<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/VDz51sC1BB<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 7, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n 2023 draft picks Taylor Hendricks (9th overall), Keyonte George (16th overall), and Brice Sensabaugh (28th overall) are all on different timelines entering year three.<\/p>\n The following year, Utah added Cody Williams (10th overall) and Isaiah Collier (29th overall) in the first round, followed by Kyle Filipowski (32nd overall) in round two.<\/p>\n The Jazz took a swing on Ace Bailey (5th overall) and picked up Walt Clayton Jr. (18th overall) in the summer of 2025.<\/p>\n Forward \u2013 Taylor Hendricks (Central Florida, 2023) Taylor Hendricks<\/a> enters year three of his NBA career as a relative unknown after a fractured leg in his third game of 2024. According to reports, the 6\u20199 power forward used the rehab process to transform his upper body in the weight room and entered training camp as a 100 percent participant following the injury.<\/p>\n Health will be the primary concern for Hendricks starting the season, but it\u2019s time for Hardy and the Jazz to find out what they have in the former No. 9 pick.<\/p>\n learning, growing & showing love <\/p>\n training camp notebook: day 2 \ud83d\udcd3 https:\/\/t.co\/eP0k8lwCT9<\/a>#TakeNote<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/sv3pUwdJIu<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Hendricks has been limited to 856 minutes played in a 43-game pro career. He has career averages of 7.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game on 43.4 percent shooting and 36.8 percent from three.<\/p>\n Guard \u2013 Keyonte George (Baylor, 2023) Keyonte George<\/a> has occasionally flashed the shot-creation and playmaking skills to be considered a long-term rotation player in the league, but maddening inconsistency and an inefficient offensive repertoire have kept George from developing into the difference maker Utah hoped for when selecting him in the 2023 draft.<\/p>\n Jazz Mailbag: What Is The Team\u2019s Starting Five?<\/a><\/p>\n The 6\u20194 combo guard has averaged 14.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and five assists in 142 career games. He set career-highs in points (16.8), assists (5.6), and rebounds (3.8) while shooting 39 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from deep as an NBA sophomore.<\/p>\n 2025-26 figures to be a make-or-break year for George in Utah. If he can up his efficiency, George has the potential to be a 30-minute-a-night player at either guard position.<\/p>\n Forward \u2013 Brice Sensabaugh (Ohio State, 2023) The 6\u20196 sweet-shooting forward enters 2025-26 on the verge of becoming not only Utah\u2019s best shooter, but one of the best perimeter shooters in the entire league.<\/p>\n Brice Sensabaugh<\/a> struggled with his conditioning early in his rookie season, which limited his production in his first year. Last season, the former Buckeye raised his shooting percentage by nearly seven points (.390 to .459) and his three-point shooting improved from a sub-30 percent rate to 42.2 percent, which ranked 15th best in the NBA.<\/p>\n If Sensabaugh can be even average defensively, he can solidify his place in Hardy\u2019s rotation.<\/p>\n Sensabaugh has career averages of 9.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists, along with an effective field goal percentage of 55.8.<\/p>\n Wing \u2013 Cody Williams (Colorado, 2024) Cody Williams<\/a> didn\u2019t look physically ready for NBA action after being taken with the tenth overall pick out of Colorado in 2024. Utah is likely betting as much on genetics; Williams\u2019 brother, Jalen, has become a game-changer, having won a championship with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2025, as well as his individual skill set.<\/p>\n If the younger Williams can develop similarly to his brother, Utah\u2019s lottery bet will pay off despite the often underwhelming play he offered as a rookie. Listed at a sinewy 6\u20197 and 190 pounds, Williams reportedly added significant strength in the offseason in hopes of better withstanding the NBA pounding.<\/p>\n The jury is still out, but the San Luis Obispo, California, native needs to take a massive step forward this season to avoid becoming a first-round flameout.<\/p>\n Guard \u2013 Isaiah Collier (USC, 2024) The Atlanta, Georgia, native got off to a slow start as a rookie, but blossomed in the second half of the season despite his shooting never coming around.<\/p>\n After acclimating to the NBA pace, Isaiah Collier<\/a> almost immediately became Utah\u2019s best playmaker because of his elite vision, passing instincts, and electric end-to-end speed.<\/p>\n everyone say \u2018HAPPY BIRTHDAY ISAIAH\u2019 \ud83c\udf89\ud83e\udd73#TakeNote<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/kIp4CvdUcW<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Collier made his NBA debut against the Milwaukee Bucks in Utah\u2019s eighth game of the season. He assumed the starting point guard responsibilities in early January and never let up. The former USC Trojan averaged 8.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and led the team with 6.3 assists.<\/p>\n Collier etched his name in franchise history<\/a> when he passed Hall of Famer John Stockton for the most assists (446) as a rookie.<\/p>\n Forward\/Center \u2013 Kyle Filipowski (Duke, 2024) A former Duke Blue Devil, Kyle Filipowski, was a projected mid-first-round pick who Utah pounced on when he was still available with the second pick of the second round.<\/p>\n Filipowski is an offensively gifted player, but his defensive limitations make his route to a rotation spot murky. He is a true \u2018tweener\u2019 who is too small for many NBA centers, but not quick or athletic enough to defend many power forwards.<\/p>\n The 6\u201911, 250-pound big man averaged 9.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and showed instinctive passing ability out of the post and on the high block with 1.9 assists. He is capable of knocking down three-point shots consistently and gives the Jazz a solid pick-and-pop option out of the front court.<\/p>\n Wing \u2013 Ace Bailey (Rutgers, 2025) Once projected as a top-three pick in the 2025 draft, Ace Bailey<\/a> fell to Utah after a tumultuous interview process that saw Bailey\u2019s representatives prevent him from working out for any teams during the draft process.<\/p>\n Jazz GM Austin Ainge didn\u2019t hesitate to pull the trigger on Bailey when the 6\u201910 forward was available with Utah\u2019s No. 5 pick. Bailey has received rave reviews from teammates and media about his personality and game as he prepares for his first NBA season.<\/p>\n Ace Bailey says he models his game after Jayson Tatum, Paul George and Kevin Durant.<\/p>\n The 2025 #5 overall pick makes his NBA preseason debut against KD tonight \ud83d\udc40<\/p>\n UTA\/HOU, 8pm\/et, NBA League Passpic.twitter.com\/1lqwuBDSRz<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NBA (@NBA) October 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Bailey figures to be a Rookie of the Year contender and would be the first Utah Jazz player to win the award.<\/p>\n Guard \u2013 Walt Clayton Jr. (Florida, 2025) Despite being a rookie, Walt Clayton Jr.<\/a> is the only one of Utah\u2019s eight young building blocks who is familiar with feeling 22 years old.<\/p>\n The 2024-25 NCAA AP All-America First Team member comes to Utah as one of the most experienced players in camp after playing 139 college games across four seasons and piloting the National Championship-winning Florida Gators in 2025.<\/p>\n Clayton Jr.\u2019s shooting will be his meal ticket in the early season after he shot 44 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from three in college.<\/p>\n Follow the Utah Jazz with KSL Sports<\/p>\n The Jazz begin the 2025-26 regular season at home against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, October 22. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. MT.<\/p>\n All Jazz games will be broadcast live on the KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM\/1280 AM). Occasionally, KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM \/ 1160 AM) will also pick up Jazz games.<\/p>\n Utah Jazz fans can watch the team\u2019s games next season for free over the air on KJZZ TV and can stream the games through a paid streaming-based platform on the team\u2019s website. KJZZ is currently broadcast on channel 14.1.<\/p>\n Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10- 12 p.m. with Jake Scott on\u00a0<\/a>97.5 The KSL Sports Zone<\/a>. Find Ben on Twitter at\u00a0<\/a>@BensHoops,<\/a>\u00a0on Instagram\u00a0<\/a>@BensHoops,<\/a>\u00a0or on\u00a0BlueSky<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Take us with you, wherever you go.<\/p>\n Download the new & improved KSL Sports app from Utah\u2019s sports leader. You can stream live radio and video, and stay up-to-date on all your favorite teams.<\/a><\/p>\n Brian Preece is a KSLSports.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian\u2019s Bees and Beehive baseball\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00a0Find Brian on\u00a0X,<\/a>\u00a0Instagram,<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0BlueSky<\/a>\u00a0at @bpreece24.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n21 years old | Year 3<\/p>\n
\n21 years old | Year 3<\/p>\n
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