The 2026-27 season for the Utah Jazz will bear little resemblance to the ones that came before. After years in which it seemed possible to be a decent team but that choice was abandoned in favor of long-term thinking – with tough penalties along the way – the moment has come to redirect the project mentally and focus solely on winning. The team’s coach, Will Hardy, knows this and has taken action.
Far from a calm offseason, the 38-year-old coach has moved to get his players fully prepared, to the point of traveling this summer to Finland to strengthen his bond with his star, Lauri Markkanen. Here is how he explains it himself.
«Obviously I have forged a very deep relationship with Lauri over the last four years. In fact, I believe he’s the only player who’s remained on the roster since my first year… But of course, I think seeing someone in their natural environment can be very enlightening,» he says about having spent a few days in his player’s country.
After adding Jaren Jackson Jr. via trade, along with Keyonte George and having brought Darryn Peterson in through the draft, the Salt Lake City squad aims to change pace. Therefore, establishing the tone through Markkanen was, for Hardy, a crucial move.
«It was important for us to spend time together; the human aspect is key to our success going forward. It’s hard to win at the most demanding level. What we are about to face is going to be very difficult. We need a strong foundation of personal relationships… Now I understand Lauri a lot better,» he concludes.
