The Jazz fell to 1-8 with another loss Friday, this time to Dallas. But to the game, master Ryan Smith offered his support for the position of head coach Will Hardy and the front office under the president of basketball operations Austin Aingetrans By Na’Andre Emerson of The Deseret News.
“Will is our guy. Austin is our guy. As if we don’t change anything” Smith continued KSL “Scotty G. & The Coach” Podcast.. “Like we’re going to get through this, we’re going to work together. We got (CEO) Danny (Ainge)and how i love our group.”
Smith addressed fan discontent over the team’s lackluster start, the development of key young players and expectations for a team hoping to take a step forward this season after spending the past four years in rebuilding mode, Emerson wrote.
While Smith maintained an upbeat and forward-looking tone during much of the podcast, he acknowledged that the Jazz haven’t started 2026/27 the way they had hoped, in part due to injuries to frontcourt starters. Yusuf Nurkich and Jaren Jackson Jr He is also not happy with the team’s current play.
“I think collectively this inconsistency is very frustrating, and I think it’s frustrating for everybody, but it takes time“, he said.
According to Emerson, Smith pointed to a young core Keyonte George, Darrin Peterson and Ace Bailey as part of his rationale for why he thinks bright days are ahead for Utah, though he noted that it’s difficult to develop young players and win games at the same time.
“(Growth) is not linear for any of these guys” said Smith.There’s only one way to get through it is to put them on the floor, and these guys are getting enough reps.”
Smith insists the Jazz aren’t panicking amid their rocky start. In fact, according to Emerson, he remains confident that the team will eventually compete for a championship, specifically citing the young players, the new expansion of George’s rookie scale and Jackson’s commitment to the club. Smith also noted that the Jazz have first-round draft picks and the financial flexibility to upgrade the roster in the future.
“There are so many levers you can use depending on… where you are in the season” said Smith.We’re definitely looking at it (for) two, three, four years, and our goal is to win a championship.”
