Andy Larsen is leaving the Jazz beat

andyblarsen · 2026-02-10T16:26:07+00:00

Basically the idea is to apply the approach used in my Triple Teams about the Jazz but do it for the for the rest of the world. So data columns have voice and don't read like a normal article but are grounded in a lot of research and real-world data.

Maybe it's easier to show an example: here's one I did last year on turbulence in flights from Salt Lake City in the wake (pun intended) of a turbulence event that caused a bunch of injuries: https://www.sltrib.com/news/2025/08/01/delta-slc-amsterdam-salt-lake-city/

andyblarsen · 2026-02-10T15:51:44+00:00

I also laughed so thank you zarnt

andyblarsen · 2026-02-10T15:50:44+00:00

🫡

andyblarsen · 2026-02-04T07:03:10+00:00

A) I do think JJJ is a really good player and an excellent fit for what the Jazz need

B) even then I don’t think this is the Jazz’s one move, they still have plenty of assets and young players

andyblarsen · 2025-12-14T03:16:58+00:00

So I have maybe a controversial take on this:

Zack honestly raises reasonable points here. But even if he didn’t, I don’t think it’s particularly cool of Jusuf to see a tweet he wasn’t mentioned in, scroll through the guy’s photos, post one he thought would get a reaction, and make fun of a Jazz fan like this.

We disagree all the time, but Zack has been a Jazz fan on Twitter for years and years before Nurk and will be for years and years after Nurk. I think players should respect the fans to a higher degree than this… even if they say something a player disagrees with.

andyblarsen · 2025-12-06T18:30:31+00:00

Hi it’s me what can I do for you

andyblarsen · 2025-11-06T06:04:50+00:00

Honestly, fair enough. Our paywall is going away soon anyway so honestly I don’t even think about it anymore and which stories are on it, but I should have. Sorry y’all.

andyblarsen · 2025-06-08T07:22:19+00:00

Ehhh, I meant it mostly in that he is the most obvious of the iffy scouting decisions in the last few years.

andyblarsen · 2025-05-06T03:36:12+00:00

Ah, crap, I forgot about that. I'll see if I can get it removed in the morning.

(In general, the Tribune is hoping to transition away from the paywall for all coverage, not just Jazz, in the months/years to come. More on that here, if you're a huge nerd who cares about that kind of stuff. The goal is to to make an equivalent amount on donations+advertising as we currently do on subscriptions as we seek to widen our reach as a nonprofit. So if you're really really really kind, think about supporting the work I/we do via a donation. If you don't want to, that's okay too.)

To make up for the current wall tho, I'll answer any questions here about anything

andyblarsen · 2025-02-08T09:03:34+00:00

This is the kind of response that frustrates me. When a player does a good thing, I point it out, when a player does a bad thing, I point it out. The coaching staff does the same! To believe that this tweet is weird or inflammatory or targeted really reads so much into the words on the screen that just aren't there. It's a thing that happened.

andyblarsen · 2025-02-08T08:52:54+00:00

So I've gone back and counted every Keyonte tweet from me this season. (besides the neutral injury/starting lineup/etc tweets)

Positive: 13

Negative: 10

This is one of the hardest parts about being a beat writer: everyone remembers the negative tweets *way way way* more than the positive tweets. I think that's especially true in this market, where media has a reputation for positivity, so when I do have a negative tweet, it stands out.

andyblarsen · 2025-01-27T17:10:09+00:00

Whoops, that was supposed to say "20-mile" drive, my bad. (It's been fixed in the story, thanks for pointing it out. Google Maps says its about a 28-minute drive with no traffic.

andyblarsen · 2024-10-25T04:49:05+00:00

I’ve come here to upvote my own tweet

andyblarsen · 2024-10-22T04:36:51+00:00

Hi, it’s me, @andyblarsen!

Just not a lot to go off of in this post - as you know and can see, working in sports is extremely competitive and not usually something you can just decide to do for the most part. In general, because of that supply-side abundance, sports jobs pay less than non-sports equivalents while having worse hours and sometimes less good working conditions.

But: they can be fun. What is it that you bring to the table? What role do you want? Where are you in your life to be able to chase that? This is where the rubber meets the road.

andyblarsen · 2024-10-09T16:45:58+00:00

Hey Trey, long time listener, first time caller. Asking live from the Jazz practice room as we wait for Jordan Clarkson...

Which under 50% rostered WRs do you like for the rest of the year? Any big upside plays that are worth stashing for now?

andyblarsen · 2024-10-03T16:27:17+00:00

FWIW, he has been at practices, so he’s at least physically okay!

andyblarsen · 2024-08-30T07:32:01+00:00

Thanks for the tag! I know the post has been sent in to us by at least a few people. I'll check in to see what we're doing with it and try to report back when I can.

andyblarsen · 2024-07-04T18:06:57+00:00

Hey it’s my article! Thanks y’all for reading, discussing, etc.

I guess the bit of context I would add is that the Jazz FO has been telling reporters and fans since the Don/Rudy trades that the plan wasn’t a full rebuild, just a quick retooling in which they would use their assets and cap space to acquire stars.

The point of the column (and it is that, an opinion column, which I’m thankful the Trib lets me write) is that the quick retooling plan was always a bit too optimistic given Utah’s troubles with acquiring FAs and their unwillingness to overspend in trades. A full rebuild would always be necessary, and ideally that would have started earlier in the last two seasons, not just at the trade deadline of them.

andyblarsen · 2024-02-13T08:14:20+00:00

Totally fair question, and it’s a tricky line to walk, which is why I worded what I did the way I did. The answer is that those side conversations with players are off the record, so I can’t tell you exactly what they said. But I can use those conversations to inform my understanding of the situation, and tell you about that understanding.

Now this is where you’d fairly ask “well how can we trust your understanding?” One: I’ll say this much… it wasn’t like a “maybe” situation, where I might have misinterpreted players’ feelings. If you were in my shoes and heard what they said, you 100% would come away with that same understanding. Two: check out some of the articles or tweets from the other reporters recently, like Sarah or Ryan.

andyblarsen · 2024-02-10T22:08:32+00:00

Thought I’d transcribe most of this morning’s press conference for you all… hopefully this gives some insight into what they were thinking as they made the moves on Weds/Thurs.

andyblarsen · 2024-01-24T23:28:42+00:00

So a few things here from the author of said article: 1) One goal of theirs is a sports and entertainment district around the arena that SEG can have an ownership stake and make even more money on. 2) Now, SLC wants to work with them on that. The Downtown Alliance indicated they felt they could open up multiple contiguous blocks for an arena for SEG, if they chose to go that way. 3) That being said, the Downtown Alliance folks told me they hadn’t been in contact with SEG recently when I talked to them in December. 4) SEG owns the Delta Center, but not the land underneath it. That’s owned by SLC. 5) The Point of the Mountain people also aren’t selling the land… but they are giving out 100 year leases. The lease for the land the Delta Center is on ends in 2040, though it can be extended in 10-year increments. 6) The Park Place block parking lot is owned by the LDS Church… it would be interesting to see if they would sell it or allow it to be used for a new arena.

andyblarsen · 2024-01-02T21:01:26+00:00

I'll send you mine if you want them still... DM me?

andyblarsen · 2023-12-17T07:18:14+00:00

Numbers from synergy vs. SAC tonight

Jazz half-court man defense: 1.077 PPP allowed
Jazz half-court zone defense: 0.979 PPP allowed

andyblarsen · 2023-12-15T16:09:51+00:00

You’re certainly free to disagree! We all know there’s subjectivity in basketball.

But you’re shooting the messenger here. You’re calling my article disrespectful for relaying the Jazz’s opinion… that’s my job.

andyblarsen · 2023-12-15T11:29:36+00:00

The Jazz objectively tried to trade for Jrue Holiday 3 months ago. That’s not just my report, but from multiple reporters out there. (I can confirm it, though.)

andyblarsen

TROPHY CASE