Who is responsible at the Utah Jazz for player fitness?

[Danish Moo Cow]

Over the last 20 odd years anyway? I'm sure it wouldn't have been between too many people considering the lengthy stays that everyone seems to have there. I'm just interested in knowing if those responsible really had an easy job with Karl Malone and John Stockton for so long while just about every other star has had to have an injury stretch at least once in their career.

Of course Malone just left the Jazz and less than a quarter into this season he's already missed 3 games, half the amount he's missed due to injury in the last 18 seasons. That fact defies belief and there must have been something more to it. Perhaps the people involved would be interested in a consulting job with some NRL clubs. Sure it's different sports, but 82 games a year for 18 seasons (plus playoffs) and to not have one serious injury (Stockton broke his leg on the Dream Team) is a major feat that could surely reap benefits in training techniques for a league team.

 

[John_Travolta]

Maybe its Jeff Hornicek training them LMAO.

 

[John_Travolta]

Utah Jazz are along way from getting back to the playoffs again.

 

[Danish Moo Cow]

How so? They were there last year and are currently at .548, good enough for 7th in the West and if the season ended now, they'd be in the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Malone will be moved to the Injured list any day now. Unheard of for him when he was at Utah.

 

[CanadianSteve]

I remeber reading that John Stockton in his last few years paid a masseur/trainer to travel with him and look after him after every game. That probably contributed to his playing so long at the demanding point guard position.

 

[Danish Moo Cow]

Rumours abound that he wanted to play again this year but decided that the team's youngsters "didn't work hard enough" to bother sticking around with. A bit of a shame.

 

[CanadianSteve]

Well, he had to go sometime.

I read recently that Andre Kirilenko has had 2 games this year where he was 5+ in the 5 positive categories - points, rebounds, steals, assists and blocks. And there were only 2 such games by other players in the last 10 years, or something like that. It shows what a skilled and versatile player he is. What sets him apart in his ability to get that stat is his shot-blocking.