As the season winds down, the Utah Jazz coaching staff is said to be focusing on “player development.”
When asked about what exactly this entails, head coach Will Hardy was specifically asked about the development of rookie guard Isaiah Collier.
He pointed to one key aspect of Collier’s game that needs work: the way he gathers the ball when driving to the basket.
Hardy explained, “I think Isaiah is used to being a lot stronger than people that he plays against, and at this level, it just doesn’t work that way. If you’re driving most of the time, there’s somebody on your side, and that person usually has, in this league, relatively long arms.
“So if I gather the ball and bring it to the middle of my body, he has a chance to swipe it. I think the elite players are very good at gathering on the outside of their body and protecting the ball so that the on-ball defender doesn’t isn’t able to get their hands on it.”
Collier has played 1 season for the Jazz. He has averaged 7.9 points, 6.2 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 62 regular-season games.
Jazz Notes: Tshiebwe, Collier, Kessler, Markkanen https://t.co/oCAwhPaLVE pic.twitter.com/DUtS2oQU1C
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) March 21, 2025
