SALT LAKE CITY — Jazz coach Will Hardy could not assist however smile. Walker Kessler had the identical response. Micah Potter too. That is the widespread reply when requested about Oscar Tshiebwe.
“I like all the pieces about Oscar. He simply makes you are feeling good,” Hardy stated. “He is an excellent human being. I want I used to be extra like Oscar.”
The Utah Jazz had a novel problem on Wednesday.
Even at full power, nobody would argue that the Jazz are among the many most proficient teams within the NBA. They have been removed from it towards the Denver Nuggets.
Utah was with out its common ahead duo of Lauri Markkanen (private causes) and John Collins (left knee contusion), in addition to Jordan Clarkson (left plantar fasciitis) and Kyle Filipowski (decrease leg irritation ).
“We’ll be enjoying lineups tonight that none of us on this room have seen,” Jazz coach Will Hardy stated. “We’ll be enjoying lineups tonight that perhaps none of us on this room had even considered. However in a approach, these nights are enjoyable as a result of we will draw on our creativity as a workers and as a staff.”
These lineups did not result in a victory — the Denver Nuggets predictably pulled away from the Jazz for a 122-103 victory Wednesday on the Delta Middle — nevertheless it did present some attention-grabbing twists and turns.
Utah began Potter (enjoying his first recreation of the 12 months and making his first NBA begin) and Svi Mykhailiuk. In the meantime, to the enjoyment of virtually everybody, Tshiebwe performed his first recreation as a member of the Utah Jazz.
Even in defeat, it was one thing the staff may smile about.
Tshiebwe scored 3 factors and completed with a career-high 9 rebounds in 16 minutes in his Jazz debut. However he may have recorded zero throughout the board and he nonetheless would have left his teammates joyful.
“Oscar is an outstanding human being,” Kessler stated. “He is such man, he works onerous, simply an trustworthy man. He is an incredible man. I like speaking with him.”
Potter added: “He is one in all a form. He is an unbelievable human being.”
Why then? For this we flip to the supply itself.
“I at all times inform those who I’m the sunshine,” Tshiebwe stated, a bit sheepishly. “So I’ll shine a lightweight to attempt to make everybody joyful, inspire them, make certain they’re doing good. Typically you may assist somebody simply by smiling.”
He stated he realized this from his father whereas rising up within the Democratic Republic of Congo. Life wasn’t straightforward, however his father advised him that irrespective of how darkish issues received, the solar would rise the subsequent day. A smile made the subsequent day brighter – for him and for everybody.
Wednesday turned out to be fairly good for him.
Tshiebwe awakened not anticipating to play on the Delta Middle. He participated in a weightlifting session with the Salt Lake Metropolis Stars and was warming up for observe when he was pulled from the observe subject.
With Markkanen and Collins out, the Jazz wanted some further bigs. He shortly referred to as his mom (she questioned why her son was calling him throughout observe), then shortly ready for his first NBA recreation of the season. It was a particular second – and it did not damage that it was his birthday both.
“There have been some moments of chaos that have been to be anticipated, however I like his willingness to do the soiled work,” Hardy stated. “He crashes each time, blocks each time, he is a bodily participant on either side of the ball. I feel the rebounding speaks for itself.”
He was a part of a makeshift group that supplied some attention-grabbing moments — the Jazz took a 12-point lead within the first quarter and staged a late comeback — however could not keep in contact with the Nuggets.
Led by reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, who completed with 30 factors, 10 rebounds and 7 assists, the Nuggets then went on a 21-4 run between the top of the primary half and the beginning of the second to win undoubtedly.
This streak highlighted a standard downside for the Jazz this season: the lack to proceed to do what truly works. The Jazz began the sport making easy reads, which led to high quality photographs. They strayed from that in these essential moments and have been out of the blue down by nearly 20 factors.
“We nonetheless have these little home windows of play that flip into a bit catastrophe,” Hardy stated. “It was in that 4 to 5 minute window that the match was determined.”
This took away a few of the enjoyable and creativity – nevertheless it’s onerous to get down when Tshiebwe is concerned.
“He’s just like the sweetest human being ever,” Hardy stated. “He performs the sport and he is probably the most bodily folks you will ever be round. He simply smiles and offers you a hug and makes you are feeling good. It is onerous to not like him.”
