Utah Jazz notebook: Rookie Othyus Jeffers gets chance to go back home

CHICAGO — He had about 150 family members, friends, former coaches and ex-teammates in the building.

The biggest dose of what it means to be in the NBA, though, came shortly after the Jazz finished their 132-108 win over 10-day contract rookie Othyus Jeffers' hometown Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night at the United Center.

It came courtesy of coach Jerry Sloan.

"Right after we made it to the tunnel," Jeffers said, "Coach got on me about missing the layup."

But Jeffers made 2 of 2 free throws and managed three rebounds while logging two minutes in his second NBA game, capping quite a return home.

The Robert Morris-Illinois product grew up on Chicago's rough-and-tumble west side, making the trip that much more meaningful.

"Just driving through the city Monday and seeing the things I grew up and saw, and being in this position now — I just want it to last," said Jeffers, who lost two brothers to gunshot violence and a few years ago was shot while defending his sister. "So I've got to work hard and try to make that stand."

That point was driven home by mom Geraldine Allen, whom Jeffers — on a day he also "got me a nice hometown haircut" — visited along with about 25 other family members.

Her message: Stay focused.

"She knows as well as I do they gave me an opportunity, and I've got to make the best of it," Jeffers said. "I'm on a time limit, so I have to do what I have to do to stay long and please the coaches."

Jeffers considers himself fortunate that after learning Saturday — three days after the Jazz promoted him from Iowa of the NBA Development League — he'd be in Chicago so soon, most of his fans bought their own tickets to Tuesday's game.

"It was a lot of people," he said.

It was, which is why Sloan wouldn't have been surprised if the experience was a thrill for Jeffers.

"I don't know how it couldn't be," Sloan said.

But that's done now.

"Wow factor is over," said Jeffers. "It's business time."

JUST PLAY: When he was assigned Monday to the Jazz's D-League affiliate Utah Flash, second-year big man Kosta Koufos had a question for Sloan.