Raul Lopez

One collector is trying to find a single signature from every man who ever played for the Jazz — all 370 of them, from the 1974 New Orleans team to today. For many of them, this page is the only one on the internet. Here is Raul Lopez: what he did on the floor, a few things most people never knew, and every card that carries his name. If you own something he signed — or you know who might — there is a note at the foot of this page.

Spain sent the Jazz a point guard they had to wait two years for — drafted 24th in 2001, Lopez tore his right ACL before ever suiting up and missed all of 2002–03. Healthy at last, he played every one of 82 games in 2003–04 behind Carlos Arroyo, handing out 3.7 assists a night. In 2005 he left in the largest trade in NBA history, a five-team deal moving 13 players.

Some had billed him as a Spanish John Stockton. He returned to Real Madrid and played in Europe until 2016, winning a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics and EuroBasket gold in 2009 with Spain, plus junior world and European titles in his teens.

HOW HE CAME & WENTUtah took him 24th overall in 2001 and waited two years to see him play, because he arrived from Spain in 2002 needing surgery on a torn knee ligament. On August 3, 2005 he was moved to Memphis in the largest trade in NBA history — five teams, thirteen players.

Full name

Raül López Molist

Utah Jazz tenure

2003–05

Position

Guard

Born

1980, Vic, Spain

Height

6′0″ (182 cm)

Weight

185 lb (84 kg)

Drafted

2001, 1st round (No. 24), Utah