On Monday night time, the Utah Jazz fell simply quick in a 110-106 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Whereas the defeat added to a troublesome season, rookie guard Isaiah Collier offered a silver lining with one other spectacular efficiency. The 20-year-old completed with 17 factors on 6-of-11 taking pictures, changing 5 of his six free throws.
Collier additionally flashed his defensive potential with three steals and a block, nevertheless it was his playmaking that made historical past. Together with his seventh help of the night time, he recorded his 416th of the season, surpassing franchise icon John Stockton for essentially the most assists by a rookie in Jazz historical past, per the NBA.
The milestone is especially important given Stockton’s standing because the NBA’s all-time help chief. Collier, the twenty ninth general choose within the 2024 NBA Draft, arrived in Utah with tempered expectations however has shortly emerged as a key determine within the crew’s rebuild. His capacity to orchestrate the offense, push the tempo and create for teammates has made him a useful a part of the Jazz’s younger core.
Stockton, who dished out 415 assists as a rookie in 1984-85, went on to amass 15,806 assists in his Corridor of Fame profession—an NBA document that is still untouched. Whereas Collier has an extended strategy to go earlier than being talked about alongside Stockton in a historic context, his achievement is an encouraging signal for each his growth and Utah’s future.
The 6-foot-3 guard has improved because the season has progressed, averaging 9.5 assists per recreation in February. Because the All-Star break, he has posted 11.7 factors, 3.8 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.3 steals per recreation. These are sturdy numbers regardless of inconsistent taking pictures effectivity.
Collier leads all rookies in assists per recreation (6.2) and complete assists whereas rating tenth in scoring (561 factors) and third in steals (64). His 203 turnovers are essentially the most amongst rookies, properly forward of Stephon Fortress’s 150. Nevertheless, such rising pains are anticipated for a younger guard shouldering important playmaking duties, particularly on a Jazz crew sitting on the backside of the Western Convention with a 16-60 document.
For perspective, Collier’s turnover complete ties him for eighth-most within the NBA alongside Jayson Tatum. Trae Younger leads the league with 330, whereas stars like James Harden, LeBron James, Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokic all rank between Younger and Collier.
Although turnovers stay a priority, they spotlight his distinguished function as a main ball-handler—a accountability few rookies are entrusted with so early of their careers.
