The ledger

Arrival in Utah (1979–1984)
← 1982-83ALL 53 SEASONS1984-85 →

1983–84 Utah Jazz

45–37 (.549) · 1st, Midwest Division — the first division title and first winning season in franchise history · coach: Frank Layden (45–37) · Salt Palace, plus 11 home games at the Thomas & Mack Center in the Las Vegas Valley
Playoffs: beat Denver 3–2 in the Western Conference First Round, lost to Phoenix 2–4 in the Conference Semifinals

This was the Jazz's tenth season in the NBA and their fourth in Utah, and it produced the first playoff appearance in the history of the franchise. It did not start that way: the season opened on October 28, 1983, with a 139–125 loss at Denver, and the Jazz lost again the next night .

15 in, 1 out. Every move the record shows for this season, with the reason where a source gives one. Where no reason is documented, the entry says nothing rather than guess.

In

15 ARRIVED
1983 NBA draft first round pick (#7 overall)
Thurl Bailey Forward · 1983–91, 1998–99
  • Utah took him seventh overall in 1983, saying openly he was chosen for his character as much as his game. On November 25, 1991 the Jazz traded him to Minnesota for Tyrone Corbin — they wanted a defender for smaller, quicker forwards. Scott Layden called it a tough deal. Bailey came back as a free agent in 1999 and retired here.
  • Won the 1983 NCAA championship with NC State — Jim Valvano's famous upset of Houston — months before being drafted.
  • Background: Traded on 25 November 1991 to Minnesota for Tyrone Corbin — the Jazz were looking for a defender against smaller, quicker wings. source
1983 NBA draft third round pick (#54 overall)
Bobby Hansen
1983 NBA draft fourth round pick (#76 overall)
Doug Arnold never played a minute for the club
1983 NBA draft fifth round pick (#100 overall)
Mark Clark never played a minute for the club
1983 NBA draft sixth round pick (#122 overall)
Fred Gilliam never played a minute for the club
1983 NBA draft seventh round pick (#146 overall)
Joe Kazanowski never played a minute for the club
1983 NBA draft eighth round pick (#168 overall)
Michael McCombs never played a minute for the club
1983 NBA draft ninth round pick (#191 overall)
Ron Webb never played a minute for the club
1983 NBA draft tenth round pick (#212 overall)
Odell Mosteller never played a minute for the club
re-signed free agent to a 4-year contract
Kenny Natt Guard · 1982–85
re-signed free agent to a 4-year contract
Rickey Green Guard · 1980–88
team exercised contract option for 1983-84
Jerry Eaves Guard · 1982–84
  • ARRIVAL: Utah takes him in the third round of the 1982 draft, ninth pick of the round, 55th overall, out of Louisville. Debut on October 29, 1982. source
re-signed to a 5-year contract extension
Jerry Eaves Guard · 1982–84
  • ARRIVAL: Utah takes him in the third round of the 1982 draft, ninth pick of the round, 55th overall, out of Louisville. Debut on October 29, 1982. source
signed 1981 second round pick
Howard Wood Forward · 1981–82
re-signed to a 1-year contract
Rich Kelley Center · 1975–79, 1982–83

Out

1 LEFT
trade with Cavaliers
Ben Poquette Forward/Center · 1979–83
  • After Utah: Cleveland Cavaliers 1983-84 through 1986-87 (meaning he moves over immediately, with no season missed — Basketball-Reference shows him in CLE in 1983-84), finishing with the Chicago Bulls in 1986-87. In all 10 seasons, 718 games, 6.8 points, 5.2 rebounds. source
← 1982-83ALL 53 SEASONS1984-85 →
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