From Deseret News archives:
Utah Jazz: Players report in top shape
Mehmet Okur and Deron Williams are leaner and not in a supermodel kind of way.
From the looks of it, Jazz players from C.J. Miles to Carlos Boozer came back to fall training camp in tip-top shape.
Even Jerry Sloan noticed and, yes, in a complimentary kind of way.
"I'm anxious," the Jazz coach said, "to see how all this stuff that they've done how much it's helped them."
Sloan specifically complimented Okur and Brewer for their offseason physical progress.
While talking about Brewer, the 20-year coach guesstimated his starting shooting guard added 20-25 pounds of muscle mass (about half that is likelier a more accurate amount, but he wasn't trying to win a guess-the-weight contest).
"His arms look bigger," Sloan said. "So give him a lot of credit for that."
The Jazz rewarded Brewer, who earned a starting spot last fall, by exercising their fourth-year option on him for the 2009-10 season.
"He's worked hard ... and I think he wants to do well," Sloan said.
Sloan believes Okur learned a valuable lesson after he arrived out of shape for his first training camp with the Jazz in 2004.
The bottom line in the NBA, Sloan said, is a simple concept: "Get yourself in great shape, so you have a chance to succeed. And I give him a lot of credit for doing that."
Okur, who is sporting a beard and what could be described as a "mullet-hawk" hairdo, worked out twice a day while in Turkey for three months this summer. That and playing pick-up ball against fellow Jazz players since early September here in Utah helped the 6-foot-11 center trim off a few pounds to his current weight of 265.
Miles, who signed a new deal with the Jazz this summer, said he worked out in New York with a trainer who helps NFL athletes improve their speed.
"I feel like this year is probably the best shape and the best I've felt since I've been in the NBA," the 21-year-old swingman said.
Boozer, who stayed in shape as a member of Team USA, believes the Jazz showed how committed they are to winning by keeping themselves in good condition.
"We're hungry. Everybody's in great shape," he said. "We've been communicating all summer about our goals, and we get started tomorrow."
Recent comments
In case you did not notice, Brewer has to defend some of the top...
re:Jazz smack | Oct. 2, 2008 at 5:29 p.m.
What's great about this, is that when you're in shape you have much...
Jazzmaster 2000 | Oct. 2, 2008 at 1:00 a.m.
The reason brewer worked on getting more muscle mass is because of...
re jazzsmack | Oct. 1, 2008 at 4:40 p.m.
- Tiger opens with a 66 in Australia 1:18 a.m.
- Crash kills Utah County man 1:12 a.m.
- UCAT cheaper education option 1:12 a.m.
- Post office to be named for Rex Lee 1:11 a.m.
- Police probe synagogue vandalism 1:09 a.m.
- New charges added in fraud case 1:09 a.m.
- Mom takes plea deal in girl's beating 1:08 a.m.
- Drug trafficking operation busted 1:07 a.m.
- News yule writing contest starting up 12:59 a.m.
- Alpine District school honored 12:59 a.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- Utah Jazz have a problem at point
- 'Love story' of crash victim ends
- BYU football recruit turning heads
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009
- Prep football: Felt's Facts Week
- 12 Utes return to Texas
- Cougars' defensive hoops clinic
- Wyoming writer amazed by BYU
- Civilians help S.L. officer make arrest
- House passes health care bill
287 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
242 - TCU showdown has big implications
193 - Senators want food tax restored
157 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
109 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
101 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
91
Utah State hoops coach Stew Morrill took a few minutes to talk about Weber
Was Kanye invited to this event?
It's a lot of hard work but worth it, like anything else, if you're willing...
I have watched the exhibition games and I have noticed a slimmer JT. He looks...
I am a life long BYU fan and I must say ya it's hurt pretty bad this season,...
Upset of the Year! Wasps 42 JD 35
Some of you are crazy - what's this crush with the Mountain West Conference?...
I have been anticipating this game for weeks. This is as good as it...
I have enjoyed these stars in other films and was looking forward to an...
The pressure isn't on Utah, it's on TCU. Tcu has nothing to gain by beating...
Where are you getting your information about the 23 players that played...
