Man i havent ever seen coach sloan praise rookie like this before. Kosta must be doing ALOT of good things out there for Jerry to speak so highly of him. I am so glad jazz picked another big man instead of relying on Fesenko because seeing how lazy he came into camp this year only shows how good the jazz did in getting another big man for competition. personally i believe kosta will end up getting PT in the bigs while Fesenko goes back to home sweet home in orem.

Certainly high words of praise for Rookie, especially when you consider they came from Sloan.

maybe Sloan is just getting soft in his old age...

The more I see this kid play the more likely we'll see Memo at power forward and Milsap at 3. That would cause a big mismatch against other teams having a 6'11" power forward that shoots the 3, a 7'1" center that shoots the 3 and handles the ball like a guard, then a small forward that blocks shots and who out hustles most power forwards let alone any small forward. This will only open things up for D-Will and Booze.

I think we'll see more of Kosta in a Jazz uniform than we'll see him playing for the flash. Not because of his talent but because of his mind set and attitude he brings to practice. Yes, practice! The same practice Iverson thinks isn't important if you're already gifted.

Re: Mismatch

Does that mean Booze will be playing the Shooting Guard along side Williams?

Brilliant!

Wait until this kid will get even more bigger, he is still 19! Jazz got a huge steal in this years draft.

Mismatch probably is dreaming about Boozer for Richardson trade;). That would make lots of sense for both teams.

With Fesenko showing exactly what kind of player he is, a happy go lucky, lazy center who didn't work out much this offseason, I wonder where all those people who were so pro-Fesenko are now. I got sick of how many people kept saying, "Trade (insert player name here), we don't need him, we have Fesenko". Looks like he'll be playing in Orem again this year, the way Koufos is playing.
If Koufos is really doing this well, then it might not be a problem if Booze bolts, or even if Memo bolts. Koufos could fill memo's role, the sweet shooting big man, and Millsap could fill Boozer's. Millsap at least plays defense.

this means Boozer sits on the bench. That would have been a nice option during the playoffs...

I hope he can play defense. I bet he does not do anything in the league.

Actually I do remember Sloan talking this way about another rookie. His name was Millsap. A player who knows he has to work hard and not just play around--amen. If we could get Koufus to get in there and plug the middle for 10-12 minutes a game it would be a HUGE plus to this team.

Fes better get a clue. He has the talent and the body but obviously it is up in the air whether he has the brain to use it properly.

Of course people have been pro-Fes. He has the tools to be just what we need and people can hope that he will figure out. I do. 7'0 dudes with bodies that can move/run the floor are rare. He is capable--the rest is between his ears though and it remains to be seen if he has the work ethic to make it. It will be a tremendous waste if he does not.

Fes has been put on notice--he better get it together and get in shape from now until the beginning of the season...unless he really likes playing in Orem vs. downtown SLC!!!

Where are you all at today??? Two days ago we were whining about how Fez is being treated and torn down. Look at the sloans relationship between praise and atribute. Hard worker thats all you can ask for and the rest will come, attitude has a plus side.

If we put Milsap at the 3 then where does AK play? I love Milsap as much as the next guy but I don't see Sloan trading out our best defensive player for another big guy that can rebound and score inside. Interesting thought however...

I am probably the only person that would rather see Boozer go than AK-sure he doesn't score a lot of points or fill up a stat sheet board, but he's the only guy we have for the superstars, all the way from the 2 guard to center.

Some of you are crazy. Anyone talking about Koufos being a possible replacement for Boozer needs medication. The dude hasn't even played a summer league game yet. You have worse knee jerk reactions than the media.

And let's be clear: the Jazz would not be better off without Carlos Boozer. Dude is an all-star with a track record.

Some of you cats drive me nuts.

Congrats to Koufos making it to Utah. Anytime you play for a Matta, you become a better person for it, whether its at the HS Level or at Ohio State, he is going to be a well-rounded player.

If K-Man works hard he can come off the bench for Memo and Milsap for Boozer, as long as Milsap and K-Man can be on the same court at the same time. This all sounds good and we'll find out.
Go Jazz!

I have no problem with players that work hard and play to the best of their abilities. I do have a problem with lazy players that think they have it made because they made the All-Star team or make alot of money. Just play hard for as long as you can and then the reason we have a bench is to give you a few minutes to catch your breath then go back in. What is a bench for other than injuries? Boozer, Memo, A.k. and one or two others have been slackers for too long Play hard for as long as you can at both ends and when you are expended coach will find a replacement until you get a breather. Your paid big bucks to compete, just do it.

On draft night I made a list of all the centers I thought the Jazz should draft, I had Kofus third behind Love and B Lopez. I couldn't believe he was still available when the Jazz picked him up; it still boggles my mind that so many teams passed on a 19 year old 7-1 guy with a pro body who can run, shoot, has a good attitude, has a history of practicing hard, and can flat out play. Side note: At Ohio State his head coached was concerned that Kofus was spending too much extra time in the gym before and after practice. No wonder Sloan loves him- so far. He hasn't so much as played a summer league game yet but so far so good.

Doubt if he gets much playing time with the Jazz. Sloan doesn`t like to play rookies. Probably will spend most of his time next year with Flash.

Look, Millsap got plenty of PT as a rookie because he worked hard. Koufos will get in if he continues doing what he's done for the last few years; work hard. Not only that, Sloan is a head coach for a reason. He knows that the Center position was a glaring weakness last year; he'll use Koufos. It won't be starting, but he'll definitely replace Collins and take several of Okurs minutes by season's end. I wouldn't be surprised if Koufos is playing 12 minutes a game by the end of the season

Goshhhhh!!!!! I'm sick and tire of some bandwagon jazz crybaby fans up here on this board. I hated boozer in last year playoff too! but this guys is good and he had a bad post season and evrybody is reday to jump off the boozer bandwagon (lol) no pun intended! but realize Millsap is a great player and even will get better but he hasn't proved that he can throw boozer numbers up there day in and day out, until Millsap prove me wrong, i want boozer on the team. For all you yolkster out, don't be jumping on the boozer wagon, when he throws up 20 and 10 next year! Go jazz

The way he supposedly shoots the three too bad he doesn't have another name that starts with k. You love to hear a guy coming in and every other word out of his mouth is work. If triple k is as advertised, sloan will keep him on the roster, and he'll get playing time. that should make fez sore, what is fez thinking, you can just coast into practice and be handed a job in the nba, then go home and sharpen your nintendo skills? A job is eight hours a day, i don't see why it's different for a bball player. When you're making the jack these guys make, you should be working ten hours a day 365 days a year, but it's a sweet job.
It's hard to see how triplek dropped, it just goes to show the hype involved in the draft, how most people just want what other people want. some of these gm's are real jokers.

I really like Fez, but for probably the wrong reason, meaning he hasn't yet shown me he can be a consistent contributor. He just might need some time overseas growing up. Nice guy, but not too focused yet. Maybe this summer league will show where he's at. Sloan will certainly know for sure by the time the last basket has been made. The trey capability of Koufos might be the sinker for Fez.

Sorry but a white guy that goes by KKK and plays for Utah is probably not a good idea. Have to come up with something a little bit better than that. Unfortunately Special K is already taken, cause I stand with those that say he's gonna make an impact. Had a longtime Pacer's fan tell me he was pissed that Indiana took Hibbert and not Koufus. Of course it remains to be seen, but I think we got the best player available by all indications.

Those are big words coming from Coach Sloan!

Sloan hasn't been this happy with a rookie since Millsap. I hope it continues. I really liked Fess but he could be history.