All three of the Jazz rookies need to properly prepare their bodies for the arduous and demanding 82-game schedule that lies ahead as they begin their second NBA season.
The growth of the Utah Jazz’s 2023–24 rookie class is still crucial to the team’s future success as they navigate the draft, free agency, summer trades, and a plethora of other decisions that need to be made.
Keyonte George, Taylor Hendricks, and Brice Sensabaugh all need to improve on a number of subtle technical abilities and on-court nuances, but taking care of their bodies will be the most crucial aspect of their first NBA offseason.
Jazz coach Will Hardy stated, “In the meetings that we’ve had with each of those guys, offseason work is broken down into different categories.” “For each of them, their body comes first. That’s just the reality of a young player making the move to the NBA. This season, the three of them have put forth a lot of effort. Their physical condition has improved since the start of the season. But whether you’re playing minutes here or in the G League, you might not see the kind of growth you’d like to.
Sensabaugh stated that following his end-of-season meetings with Hardy and Jazz brass, the most important thing that became clear to him was the necessity of being in better overall shape. This includes increasing strength, losing weight, becoming more flexible, and discovering burst in areas where he hasn’t previously developed it.
George agreed, understanding that his conditioning is inextricably linked to his capacity to play for longer periods of time and to maneuver around screens. Furthermore, Hendricks is aware that his priorities will change based on how much his body changes.
Hendricks stated, “My creativity on the ball is the main thing for me.” “And a great deal of it is related to
Hardy is relieved that the young athletes have understood the message, as it goes beyond simply losing weight or using the treadmill more frequently.
Hardy stated, “The summer is the time to really focus on your body, and it’s not just strength.” “Quickness is key, and conditioning for all three of them is unquestionably important. Based on the amount of minutes they’re playing, I believe they’re starting to realize that none of them are likely in good enough shape to be who they want to be. There will be a ton of labor this summer.
It’s important for them to realize that they need to train both their bodies and minds, even if it’s understood that these are all 20-year-old young guys whose bodies won’t transform into NBA players in a matter of months.
