Other newcomers, like Jeff Green, said it was a major reason he came to Utah.
Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell got a running start at it, underscoring the intention all the way back to last season.
But as the reality of the season bears down on them, starting Wednesday night at home, players are wrapping their mitts around the degree of difficulty in the goal. It will be an arduous climb, requiring from the Jazz every large and small particle of their bodies and minds, every chunk of force and focus they can stir, and some useful cooperation and good fortune from the basketball gods.