Fans send off 2025-26 Utah Jazz with hope that the future is bright
· Yahoo Sports
The Delta Center is an unusual and special place in the NBA.
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The Utah Jazz have been a losing, tanking team for four years, but the fans still pack the building, buy merch, scream their heads off and stand behind the team despite wading through what has been a grueling and often tiresome rebuild.
“Especially here at the Delta Center, the support of the fans is not lost on us,” Jazz head coach Will Hardy said.
That’s because Hardy and all of the players on this Jazz team know what arenas around the league look like for other losing teams. It’s not unusual for an arena of a losing team to look empty, sad and have a fog of quiet laying just over the top of the game being played.
But in Utah, that’s not the case. There have been 164 games here since the Jazz started this rebuild, and the fans have been there every step of the way. It was no different on Friday night for the last home game of the 2025-26 regular season
“Gotta show out for your team,” lifelong Jazz fan Cord Geter said, decked out in Jazz gear and heading to his seat with even more at halftime. “Always excited for them, no matter what.”
Fans reach to catch miniature basketballs during a timeout during the first half of an NBA game between the Utah Jazz and the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz guard Bez Mbeng (21) drives to the basket for a layup during the first half of an NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz forward Blake Hinson (2) shoots over Memphis Grizzlies guard Adama Bal (72) during the first half of an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz guard Kennedy Chandler (0) shoots over Memphis Grizzlies guard Lucas Williamson (55) during the first half of an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) shoots a 3-pointer during the first half of an NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) takes the ball up court during the first half of an NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz guard Bez Mbeng (21) makes a pass during the first half of an NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz forward Blake Hinson (2) drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies guard Adama Bal (72) during the first half of an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz guard Ace Bailey (19) is introduced before an NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News A general view of the Delta Center during the first half of an NBA game between the Utah Jazz and the Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Fans dance during a timeout during the second half of an NBA game between the Utah Jazz and the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (20) and guard Ace Bailey (19) talk as they throw shirts into the crowd after an NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Fans hold out their arms as Utah Jazz guard Ace Bailey (19) uses a T-shirt canon to launch shirts into the crowd on fan appreciation night after an NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz guard Svi Mykhailiuk (10) throws a shirt into the crowd on fan appreciation night after an NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) throws a shirt into the crowd on fan appreciation night after an NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News A young fan jumps to catch a T-shirt tossed into the crowd by Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) on fan appreciation night after an NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) and Memphis Grizzlies forward Rayan Rupert (32) dive for a loose ball during the second half of an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz guard Ace Bailey (19) steals the ball from Memphis Grizzlies guard Adama Bal (72) during the second half of an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Memphis Grizzlies guard Lucas Williamson (55) makes a pass during the second half of an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz guard Kennedy Chandler (0) fouls Memphis Grizzlies guard Adama Bal (72) during the second half of an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz guard Bez Mbeng (21) looks to pass during the second half of an NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz guard John Konchar (55) drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies guard Jahmai Mashack (21) during the second half an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, left, and forward Jaren Jackson Jr., right, celebrate on the bench after guard John Konchar (55), not pictured, completed his triple double during the second half of an NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz forward Kevin Love, right, and center Jusuf Nurkić, left, celebrate on the bench after Utah Jazz guard John Konchar (55), not pictured, completed his triple double during the second half of an NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz guard Kennedy Chandler (0) and guard Ace Bailey (19) celebrate after guard Bez Mbeng (21) got his 10th rebound to complete a triple double during the second half of an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz guard Bez Mbeng (21), guard Ace Bailey (19) and guard John Konchar (55) look on during a break in play during the second half of an NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz forward Kevin Love (42) takes off his sweats as he fakes checking into the game during the second half of an NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Fans react after Utah Jazz forward Kevin Love (42) faked checking into the game during the second half of an NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz forward Kevin Love (42) points toward Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy as fans chant “We want Kevin” during the second half of an NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Fans cheer as Utah Jazz forward Kevin Love (42) fakes checking in to the game for the second time during the fourth quarter of an NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy gives a thumbs down as fans call for Kevin Love to check in during the second half of an NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Fans wear basketball nets as masks during the second half of an NBA game between the Utah Jazz and the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News A young fan cheers as players throw t-shirts into the crowd after an NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies on fan appreciation night at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret NewsFans have understood when going to games over the last few years that they probably wouldn’t see many Jazz wins, and they have known the team has been aiming for losses and lottery position, bringing down the on-court product.
But most fans were OK with rooting for losses and lottery picks, and proud of being a part of the fanbase that didn’t give up when things were looking bad.
And as the 2025-26 season comes to an end, the fans can see the light peeking through the clouds, promising that there are better days ahead.
“Listen, the Jazz are a small-market team. We’ve got no other choice than to lose right now,” fan Nathan Sweeten said. “You’ve got to support your team through the tough years, because next season we’re a top 5 team in the league, and you can quote me on that!”
With Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., Keyonte George, (possibly) Walker Kessler, Ace Bailey, a likely incoming lottery pick and some promising role players, it looks like the Jazz will have a team that is not only fun to watch but will be on track to rack up wins next season.
That’s the team Jazz fans are holding on for.
Even the fans who have been almost begrudgingly coming to the Delta Center over the last few years see the end of the rebuild in sight.
Daren Larsen, who has been a Jazz season ticket holder for 10 years, said that if he wanted to sell his tickets to a game, he’d lose about $30 a ticket and it’s been a slog the last few seasons. So what is keeping him coming back and renewing his tickets?
“I guess hope,” he said. “I should have canceled the last year probably, but I have suffered through, so I might as well stay for next year, because there’s no reason to tank next year...I’m hopeful we’ll get to the playoffs again.”
Not everyone has been hopeful though. There are definitely subsets of the fanbase that have felt discouraged and abandoned by the Jazz. When the games stopped mattering and the Jazz tore down the roster — choosing lottery balls over wins — some fans felt like they’d been disregarded.
Though Hardy would have preferred for everyone to stand by the team through the hard times, he understands why this has been hard for fans, and he has a message of hope for them, too.
“I do think that any productive relationship has to go through and be able to navigate a hard moment,” he said. “If your instinct is to cut and run when it gets hard, you and I aren’t going to get along very well.
“But I do understand that fans want to win. I understand that sentiment very much, so what would I say to them about the future?...I would say, if you’re feeling discouraged as a fan, don’t give up yet.”