SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz enter the 2025-26 season in full-on rebuild mode with eight players under contract, 22 years of age or younger, who are looking to be rotation regulars for Will Hardy.
Utah can already pencil former All-Star Lauri Markkanen and budding top-ten center Walker Kessler into the starting lineup for 30+ minutes a night whenever healthy. Behind them, veteran newcomers Jusuf Nurkić , Kyle Anderson , and Georges Niang are vying for playing time.
The young players are indeed the future of the franchise, but on-court production, not lofty draft status or contract size, will determine playing time when the regular season begins later this month.
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first (preseason) road trip for the rooks, t