Utah Jazz: Mr. Consistent — As Jazz evolve and change, Sloan remains Utah's rock

"I've always believed in continuity," said the 66-year-old Sloan, who with tonight's 2008-09 opener against the Denver Nuggets at EnergySolutions Arena officially opens his 21st season as head coach of the Jazz. "Some guys might not like it here today. ... But then they start playing together and it's not so bad, if they start winning. And that's all I've ever looked for.

"Having guys kind of know what you're kind of doing," he added, "gives you a chance."

The kicker, of course, is that the Jazz wouldn't have the continuity they do if it weren't for Sloan's own persistence in the position he has held since being elevated from assistant to succeed Frank Layden on Dec. 9, 1988.

That's before seven of his current players had entered kindergarten — and before one of them, 19-year-old Koufos, had even been born.

"There's a continuity both ways," said Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor, who himself is beginning his 10th season in charge of the team's front office. "And I think that's beneficial."

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It also lends itself to all sorts of longevity-based milestones from one season to another, and this one will be no different.

Sometime in the next few weeks, the Jazz should win their fifth regular-season game — and Sloan will have his 1,000th victory as head coach of the franchise, No. 1,094 overall including a two-and-a-half stint with the Chicago Bulls in the late 1970s and early 19801s.

Only four others — Lenny Wilkens, Don Nelson, Pat Riley and Larry Brown — have won more than 1,000 games in their careers, and none have done it with the same team.

Tenured longer with the same franchise than any other coach or manager in America's four major professional sports leagues, Sloan also will be celebrating his 20th anniversary as the Jazz's bench boss when he works a Dec. 9 road game at Minnesota.

None of that, though, seems to mean a thing to him.

Or, if it does, he'd never publicly admit it.

"I didn't come here to do that," Sloan — who has witnessed 211 coaching changes in the NBA since he took over from Layden, including a league-leading 12 by the Denver Nuggets — said of being recognized for lasting as long as he has. "It's not about me. It's always about the players."

Those very same players, though, appear to fully comprehend the significance of Sloan's atypically lengthy reign.

"It's an honor to play for a legendary coach like Jerry," Boozer said. "We say that every year.

"When you mention those milestones," Boozer added, "we're happy to be on the same team he's been on, and for us to get him some more wins."