Rudy Gobert hugs teammates Donvan Mitchell and Alec Burks behind Raul Neto's interview as the Utah Jazz hold their media day at the Zion's Back Practice Facility in Salt Lake city on Monday, Sept. 24, 2018.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz are back to work as they prepare for their first pre-season game this weekend against the Perth Wildcats.
Head Coach Quin Snyder says they’re focusing on the future and not dwelling on the past.
“We know more about our team,” Snyder said during the Jazz media day. “Last year we went into the season trying to figure out who we are. Now it’s about who we are, who do we want to be.”
Jae Crowder and Georges Niang laugh as they and the rest of the Utah Jazz team attend media day at the Zion’s Back Practice Facility in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 24, 2018.
Forward Jae Crowder admits he ran out of gas toward the end of the last season but said he’s excited about the upcoming season.
“Knowing that we’re trying to fight for that one goal and that’s all five guys on the court being on the same page and knowing what we want to do,” Crowder said.
Center Rudy Gobert says it’s time for the team to step up.
“I still feel like I have a lot to prove,” Gobert told reporters. “I still feel like, as a team, we haven’t accomplished what we can accomplish.”
This iteration of the Jazz team is set to begin the season with a lineup full of familiar faces as the team brought back point guards Dante Exum and Raul Neto, as well as power forward Derrick Favors to multi-year deals over the offseason.
The team faces off against the Perth Wildcats from Australia on Saturday at the Vivint Smart Home Arena at 7 p.m.
