Unbeaten Jazz Are Spoiling Danny Ainge's Tanking Plans

Victor who? A funny thing happened to the Utah Jazz on the way to a tanking season in pursuit of generational talent Victor Wembanyama. The tearing-it-down Jazz simply can't lose. 

KELLY OLYNYK WINS IT IN OVERTIME AND THE UTAH JAZZ ARE 3-0 🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/JJVfItQ264

— BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) October 24, 2022

current mood: pic.twitter.com/qStdho5HMb

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 24, 2022

In trading away their two All-Stars, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert this summer, Jazz CEO Danny Ainge was collecting first-rounders left and right and expecting to be a leader in the tank race to Wembanyama. Now, with the Jazz unexpectedly 3-0, Ainge must be wondering...

what have i done pic.twitter.com/qJjtwwXKFg

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) October 24, 2022

The Jazz are in fact 1st in the NBA in points per game, 1st in threes made per game, and 2nd in assists per game. And now ESPN's Ramona Shelburne says hold the phone on that rebuild... possibly.

"Somebody cautioned me before the season: If this [Utah Jazz] team gets off to a good start, don't be surprised if they hang on to some of these veterans for awhile. They don't need to be in any hurry to start this rebuild."

🗣️ @ramonashelburnepic.twitter.com/xSUmFmaQC6

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) October 24, 2022

"Somebody cautioned me before the season: If this [Utah Jazz] team gets off to a good start, don't be surprised if they hang on to some of these veterans for a while. They don't need to be in any hurry to start this rebuild."

With the likes of Laurie Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson and Kelly Olynyk leading the way, the Jazz are the toast of the NBA. They just might want to wait a bit before they pop the champagne, though. It's only three games. A lot can happen in the next 79.