Jazz notes: Hundley, mourning wife, misses final Jazz game

Longtime Jazz radio play-by-play announcer Hot Rod Hundley missed the Jazz's season finale Wednesday night to mourn the death of his wife.

Florence Hundley, 70, of Phoenix passed Monday night after a battle with cancer, the Jazz announced Wednesday.

She is survived by three daughters, Kimberly, Jacquie and Jennifer; and by two grandsons, Tanner and Rod.

Hot Rod Hundley, in his 32nd season as voice of the Jazz, also missed a game last Friday at Oklahoma City to be with his wife, and another Monday at San Antonio.

Steve Brown filled in for Hundley on the road.

Steve Klauke stepped aside from his usual duties as broadcaster for the Salt Lake Bees baseball team to call Wednesday's season-ending game against Golden State.

ANDREI SITS: Jazz starter Andrei Kirilenko did not play in the win over the Warriors, as back spasms kept him from dressing for a second straight game.

Because he sat, Kirilenko was not able to catch Denver center Marcus Camby and repeat as the NBA leader in blocked shots per game. He wound up averaging 3.19 swats, slightly fewer than last season's league-high 3.32 per game.

Kirilenko also finished the season averaging 15.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists — joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bob Lanier and David Robinson as the players in NBA to average at least 15 points, eight boards, four assists and three blocks in a single season.

ALUMNI UPDATE: According to the Orlando Sentinel earlier this week, ex-Jazz guard DeShawn Stevenson may leave the Magic. "Although he wants to be part of the Magic's upbeat future . . . he also wants a better contract and might have to exercise his option to play elsewhere next season."

Stevenson, who will make $3 million next season if he stays in Orlando, can become a free agent this summer by opting out of a three-year, $8.2-million deal that expires after next season.

"I'm looking to take care of my family even more," Stevenson, Utah's 2000 first-round draft pick, told the Orlando paper. "I'm not saying I don't have the money now, but, you know, just being even more secure . . . "

Responded Magic assistant general manager Otis Smith: "It wouldn't surprise me, but we look at DeShawn as being a big part of our team. If he did opt out, it would be something he'd have to weigh himself: 'How much do I like it here? Or am I chasing a pot of gold that may or may not be there?' "

NOT REAL POPULAR: The NBA recently released a list of its top 25 best-selling jerseys this season, and none belonging to a Jazz player made the list.

Miami's Dwyane Wade was No. 1, followed by LeBron James of Cleveland and Philadephia's Allen Iverson. Sacramento's Mike Bibby came in at No. 25.

Utah was not among the top 25 best-selling team jerseys, either. The Los Angeles Lakers led that list.

BE PICKY: Unless they overcome 200-to-1 odds stacked against them and win one of the top three picks in the June NBA Draft, the Jazz — who finished with the best record among all non-playoff teams — will own the No. 14 overall pick this year.

That's the same spot in which current Jazz forward Kris Humphries was taken during the 2004 draft.

Utah also owns two second-round selections this year, its own and Chicago's.

MISC.: Jazz guard Milt Palacio (knee inflammation) did not dress for the fourth time in five games . . . Usuals Gordan Giricek (Achilles tendinitis), Robert Whaley (back spasms) and Andre Owens (tibia stress-fracture surgery) ended the season on the inactive list . . . Warriors rookie Monta Ellis had a career-high 27 points and career-high eight rebounds.

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com