Hey basketball fans! Have you ever wondered why Utah’s team is called the Jazz? As a long time NBA enthusiast, I’ve looked into the history behind this peculiar team name.
Who Are The Utah Jazz?
The Utah Jazz is an NBA team based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. Established in New Orleans in 1974. The name New Orleans Jazz has stuck since 1974.
Why is that?
To find out we will have to head back to New Orleans.
Utah Jazz Name Origin – Why are They Called Jazz?
The Utah Jazz name derives from their time spent playing in New Orleans, where jazz music plays an integral part of city culture. When they moved to Salt Lake City in 1979, their name followed them. After moving to Salt Lake City from its previous home city of New Orleans in 1979, the team chose to keep its original name and colours from Mardi Gras festivities: purple, gold and green.
Utah Jazz are one of the most successful NBA teams ever. Since they entered the league, they have won seven division championships and twice appeared in two NBA Finals (where Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls defeated them both times). Yet many people are puzzled as to why the team bears its name – it may refer to jazz music but Utah does not boast a culture associated with that form of expression.
At first, when the team first started out in New Orleans, they were known as the New Orleans Jazz to honor its musical heritage. Sam Battistone decided to keep this name when moving his franchise to Salt Lake City despite the presence of multiple restaurants with similar names like Sambo’s. Additionally, Battistone published The Story of Little Black Sambo which depicted African and other black people stereotypically.
Named the Jazz after their hometown team in New Orleans, these early franchises were quickly derided for both their name and mascot: a monkey holding an airhorn trumpet symbolizing jazz music while the monkey being an allusion to Mardi Gras costumes. Battistone agreed to sell his team out-of-state but refused to alter either their name or image in any way.
Utah is known for its National Parks, making it an ideal destination for outdoor recreation. Utah also serves as a center for education and transportation services, making the state home to two professional sports teams that call Utah home: Utah Jazz are one of the most successful teams in NBA history and take their name as a tribute to its roots.
Utah may not be known for its jazz music, but they certainly boast a proud basketball tradition. Established in 1974 and officially admitted into the NBA since 1979, Utah Jazz have won six division titles and appeared in two NBA finals but never managed to take home the trophy despite possessing an exceptional roster and coach. Perhaps rebranding could increase their chances of victory and perhaps increase viewership?
I’ve always found it puzzling why the Jazz kept their name after moving to Utah; it seems arbitrary and odd.
So What?
Will Utah Jazz Change their name in 2024?
Even with all of its controversy, it seems unlikely that the Utah Jazz will change their name. Their fans are extremely loyal and unlikely to accept a different moniker; additionally, changing would require spending considerable amounts of money and purchasing merchandise with different names.
In addition, the NBA has established a list of approved nicknames for teams. This list may change over time; should one violate it, however, they could lose their right to use one of these names.
Let me know if you have any other NBA history questions! I’m always happy to dive into the stories behind the teams and players we love.