Harpring's been flying under radar this year

Yet Harpring's not starting, like he has for the bulk of his career — 345 of 449 games coming into this season.

They may not be what he had in mind when testing the NBA's free-agency market this past summer, then quickly deciding to accept a lucrative multi-year offer to return to Utah.

But he insists he's OK with it, all in the name of the greater good.

"Obviously I didn't know," said Harpring, who has averaged double-digit scoring each of the past six seasons, including a career-high 17.8 in 2002-03. "But I signed up for the fact that I thought we could win. I had a good feeling after last year that we'd have a good team if we could just stay healthy.

"I just want to win," he added. "It's a good feeling. We haven't had that around here in a little while."

That's the same sort of attitude Sloan — who notched his 1,000th NBA coaching victory with Monday's win over Dallas, a game in which Harpring had eight rebounds and 15 points on an efficient 6-of-11 shooting from the field — has seen countless other veterans grow into over the years.

"That's what it's all about," the Jazz coach said of winning. "Sometimes guys don't realize it, because they're fighting to (earn) a job, fighting to try to stay in the league, fighting to get playing time.

"Then, once you know you belong ... you go, 'Oh, wow, it's about over; let's go win."'

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com