It truly isn’t that hard for NBA players to win over Utah Jazz fans. Show some loyalty by giving the team, city and community some love, play your heart out, and respect the coach, organization and team, and they’ll likely love you forever. It’s why guys like DeMarre Carroll and Trevor Booker are so widely loved in Salt Lake City despite such short stints in Utah that came with little team success.
Couple in those three traits with choosing the Jazz in free agency (something very few meaningful players are known for) and hitting a playoff game winner in epic fashion, and it’s no question why Jazz fans are so infatuated with and grateful to Joe Johnson.