Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy did not want to be a buzzkill Monday as Jordan Clarkson chased history. Hardy just wanted his player to do it faster.
Clarkson was chasing the Jazz’s first regular season triple-double in 16 years during the Jazz’s 127-90 win over the Dallas Mavericks at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Clarkson entered the fourth quarter with 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists.
The former Sixth Man of the Year got the assists he needed by the 7:48 mark. However, the rebounds proved to be a greater challenge. Clarkson was still short a rebound with under 4 minutes to play, which led to a tremendous soundbite from Hardy during a timeout.
“Go get a rebound so I can sit your a– down. God d—-t,” Hardy urged the Jazz guard (profanity edited by LBS).
W Will Hardy pic.twitter.com/tEkAIScUrw
— 𝐒𝐆𝟏 (@Harden4threee) January 2, 2024
Clarkson finally got one at the 2:28 mark and immediately called timeout.
1) the reaction to jordan clarkson getting the jazz's first triple-double since carlos boozer in february 2008 was super cool
2) luka samanic getting out of the way for jc to grab that board was GREAT pic.twitter.com/4tANXJfidO
— Dan Favale (@danfavale) January 2, 2024
The 31-year-old’s final stat line credited him with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists.
Clarkson ended the Jazz’s triple-double drought that lasted 1,256 games over 16 seasons — the longest stretch in NBA history. The last regular season triple-double by a Jazz player was accomplished by Carlos Boozer all the way back in February 2008.
The Jazz power forward tallied 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists on Feb. 13 in a 19-point win over a Seattle SuperSonics team that featured a rookie Kevin Durant.
Last Utah Jazz Triple Double
FEB. 13, 2008 – Carlos Boozer at Seattle
SINCE
5,800 Days
1,256 Jazz Games
1,204 NBA Triple-Doubles
165 NBA players recorded Triple-DoubleKevin Durant played for the Seattle Supersonics
— David Locke (@DLocke09) January 2, 2024
Hardy admitted after the game that he did not want “to mess up a good time” by subbing Clarkson out early. The young coach was well aware that the fans wanted Clarkson to achieve the feat as well.
Will Hardy on keeping Clarkson in: "I said get a rebound and call timeout immediately. I'm obviously not here to mess up a good time. I understand that I would have been maybe the most hated man in the building if I subbed him out."
— Ryan Miller (@millerjryan) January 2, 2024
The Jazz veteran played 28 total minutes — much more than Hardy would’ve preferred in a massive blowout.
