Utah Jazz: Fesenko back to showcase with Flash

Just in time for its Showcase in Orem, the NBA Development League got one of its All-Star players back.

The Utah Jazz reassigned second-year big man Kyrylo Fesenko to its D-League affiliate, the Utah Flash, on Tuesday morning in time for their game against Anaheim.

"I'd just like to see him get in the game and play and see where he is, where he'll have a chance to play some minutes," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said.

Sloan didn't give a timeline for Fesenko's return to the NBA franchise, but he's definitely been more satisfied with the 7-1 Ukrainian center's more consistent effort and play lately.

"He's starting to take a grasp of the idea of working harder, and he's looked much better in practice because of it," Sloan said.

Fesenko didn't play in the last two Jazz games, but he registered a career-first double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds against Yao Ming and Houston on Dec. 27. That big game came a night after he played well in a reserve role against Dallas, which came a few nights after he struggled in a rare start against Milwaukee.

That low point against the Bucks seemed to be a turning point for Fesenko, who left the Jazz's training facility Tuesday morning before the team began its workout.

"He's really worked hard here in practice. He's had a couple of outings in the game where he's played well when he was out there," Sloan said. "Hopefully, he has learned that work is going to give him a chance."

Fesenko has averaged 2.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 8.3 minutes in 10 games with the Jazz this season. He hasn't played in 25 games in Utah, including 12 times because of a coach's decision. Last year with the Flash, Fesenko averaged 10.1 points and 7.7 rebounds in 25.6 minutes of action.

Backup guard Morris Almond, another D-League All-Star in 2008, remains with the Jazz despite being put on the inactive list for the past two games.

COWHIDE CALL HITS HOME: You gotta love it, baby. It, in this case, being tonight's radio broadcast, will be the 3,000th game Hot Rod Hundley has put in the refrigerator as the voice of the Utah Jazz. Hundley is the only staff member from the original New Orleans Jazz who has remained with the franchise for its entire 35 years. He has only missed 14 Jazz games during those 3 1/2 decades.

"I just hope he's on time for game 3,000, so I can get my job done," Sloan joked. "Hot Rod's a legend ... He still loves the game of basketball, and I've enjoyed working with him over the years."