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Why Jazz, Jaren Jackson Jr. are projected to be 2026-27 NBA Western Conference’s dark horse originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Parity in the NBA is at an all-time high. So, being projected to have only 44 or so wins doesn’t eliminate a squad’s title-contending hopes. The Utah Jazz can bear this optimism heading into the 2026-27 season. Coach Will Hardy now has a revamped roster that can contend for a title, with Jaren Jackson Jr., Darryn Peterson, Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, Jusuf Nurkic, and Ace Bailey. Believe it or not, this squad has been deemed as ESPN’s top dark horse in the Western Conference.
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Jazz led by Jackson Jr., Markkanen, and George projected by ESPN to be NBA’s top dark horse
The Jazz may not look like much on paper, but they are more than meets the eye. Coach Will Hardy has proven he can win games through sheer wit, despite a thin rotation. So, expectations have risen once they made ample acquisitions who can compete at a higher level. This is why they are tied with the Indiana Pacers as the top contenders among teams likely to make a major leap.
A big reason the Jazz are projected this high is their new acquisitions heading into the 2026-27 NBA season. Rather than starting Cody Williams, Coach Hardy will now have the luxury of having Ace Bailey at shooting guard, where he can practice his scoring chops. Lauri Markkanen will also no longer play out of position at the five as Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic join the roster.
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Importantly, the Jazz have plenty of all-around depth that can compete against top teams in the Western Conference. Off the bench, Coach Hardy has Josh Okogie, Brice Sensabaugh, John Konchar, Svi Mykhailiuk, and Kyle Filipowski. Their interior presence is also one of the best in the league, with Filipowski, Jaxson Hayes, and Mo Bamba playing backup.
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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/why-jazz-jaren-jackson-jr-213231760.html
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Publish date : 2026-08-27 21:32:00
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