Utah Jazz: Top 5 Small Forwards in Team History

By Ryan Aston

Five Best Small Forwards in Utah Jazz History

Gordon Hayward Utah Jazz Five Best Small Forwards of All Time — With the Utah Jazz having locked Gordon Hayward up with a long-term, max contract, the small forward position is set for years to come. When all is said and done, he may go down as one of the best wings ever to occupy the SF spot for the club. Headlined by a HOF'er, here are the top five players in team history to man the position that Hayward now holds.

5. John Drew

John Drew Utah Jazz Small Forwards Top 5 All-time - Copy

5. John Drew

John Drew Utah Jazz Small Forwards Top 5 All-time — In his prime, John Drew was an All-Star and high-level scorer in the league. Acquired by the Jazz as part of the Dominique Wilkins trade, Drew was at the end of his career when he played for Utah, but remained an effective scorer for the team. His ability to come off the bench and put up points from either forward spot in limited minutes helped the Jazz win their first division championship in '83-'84.

4. Bryon Russell

Bryon Russell Utah Jazz Long Beach State SF All-time Five Best - Copy

4. Bryon Russell

Bryon Russell Utah Jazz Long Beach State SF All-time Five Best — In his third season, Russell had found himself at the end of Utah's bench with his professional career seemingly hanging in the balance. With his bulldog defense and propensity for knocking down three-pointers, he worked his way out of the dog house and into the starting lineup, becoming a fan favorite and pivotal piece of the Jazz teams that faced Chicago in consecutive NBA Finals.

3. Matt Harpring

Matt Harpring Utah Jazz Top 5 All time Small Forwards

3. Matt Harpring

Matt Harpring Utah Jazz Top 5 All time Small Forwards - Copy — If injuries hadn't taken their toll on Matt Harpring, there's no telling what the Jazz could've done during the Williams/Boozer era. In his early seasons with the team, he was Utah's go-to player on offense. Once his body began to give, he transitioned to a reserve role as a defensive specialist and a maestro of mid-range jumpers.

2. Andrei Kirilenko

Andrei Kirilenko AK-47 Utah Jazz Russia SF - Copy

2. Andrei Kirilenko

Andrei Kirilenko AK-47 Utah Jazz Russia SF — Another player cut down by injuries, AK47 was one of the most physically gifted/athletically talented players ever to suit up for the Jazz. He was an All-Star in 2004, an All-League defender and Utah's jack of all trades for a decade. He never quite lived up to the max contract he received after his All-Star season, but he remained a key player for the team throughout his tenure in Salt Lake City.

1. Adrian Dantley

Adrian Dantley AD Utah Jazz HOF Small Forward Five Best

1. Adrian Dantley

Adrian Dantley AD Utah Jazz HOF Small Forward Five Best - Copy — Before the Mailman delivered, AD was the centerpiece of Utah's offense for seven years. In that time, he lead the NBA in scoring twice and had a stretch of four consecutive season at 30+ PPG. He represented the Jazz in six All-Star games and was named to the All-NBA second team twice. At only 6-foot-5 and just over 200 pounds, Dantley played larger than his frame. He's now enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Ryan Aston covers the Utah Jazz for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @MrMaryKateOlsen or add him to your network on Google.

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