10 Best Scorers In Utah Jazz History: Adrian Dantley Leads The Jazz, Karl Malone Is Surprisingly Second

Originally posted on Fadeaway World | By Eddie Bitar | Last updated 2/7/22

The Utah Jazz are one of the most renowned franchises in NBA history because some of the greatest players ever have played for them. Salt Lake City has seen the likes of Karl Malone and John Stockton bring playoff success for years, while some other elite players such as Adrian Dantley scored the ball at an extremely proficient rate.

Even if the Jazz do not have an NBA title to the franchise’s name, the amount of success they had in the league has been very impressive. Making the Finals twice, Utah were a consistent playoff team and have been throughout their history. These days, we are seeing the likes of Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell create a title contender as they look to make the Finals for the first time since 1998.

Here are the 10 greatest scorers in Utah Jazz history, and there might be some names that sound very familiar in the top-5.

10. Bojan Bogdanovic - 18.3 PPG

(3 Seasons, 2020-2022)

Perhaps a surprising name on the list, Bogdanovic has been an excellent pickup for Utah over the past few seasons. The swingman is an above-average defender and has the toughness to succeed in the NBA, both inside and outside the paint. But his strength comes in his three-point shooting, whereby he is shooting 39.7% from beyond since he joined the Jazz.

Taking nearly 7 threes a game, Bojan is relied upon to take and make big shots because his floor spacing makes him a perfect role player alongside the likes of Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley, and Rudy Gobert. A consistent scorer, Bogdanovic has played very well for the Jazz over 3 seasons.

9. Jeff Malone - 18.5 PPG

(4 Seasons, 1991-1994)

A 2-time All-Star with the Washington Bullets, Jeff Malone was a very solid offensive star during the late 80s. Following 5 seasons averaging at least 20 PPG, the Jazz acquired Malone when the 6’4” shooting guard was only 29 years old. That proved to be the right move because Malone put up 18.6 PPG in his first season with the franchise.

The following year, Malone put up 20.2 PPG on 51.1% shooting from the field while taking almost 17 shots per game. He averaged over 16 PPG for the next two seasons, before joining the Philadelphia 76ers in the early 1990s. A solid shooting guard with above-average scoring ability, Jeff Malone certainly made his presence felt over the 4 seasons he played for the Jazz.

8. Al Jefferson - 18.5 PPG

(3 Seasons, 2011-2013)

Big Al Jefferson was a solid scorer in his prime, putting up double-doubles in a consistent manner as a primary and secondary offensive option. For Utah, Jefferson played over 200 games in 3 seasons, putting up 18.5 PPG and 9.5 RPG. A solid post scorer with a mid-range shot, Jefferson was a problem to defend.

Jefferson was acquired by Utah following the big man’s emergence with the Timberwolves because Kevin Love was coming into his own in Minnesota. Nailing 49.5% of his shots from the field 76.7% from the free-throw line, Jefferson was a very efficient scorer for Utah over the 3 years he played for the franchise.

7. John Drew - 18.5 PPG

(3 Seasons, 1983-1985)

Making 2 All-Star Teams with the Atlanta Hawks during the late 1970s and early 1980s, John Drew was supposed to be a solid pickup for the Utah Jazz in the 1983 season. It certainly proved to be a nice pickup, because the 6’6” forward put up 21.2 PPG and 5.3 RPG in his first season with the team on 47.4% shooting.

The following two seasons with the Jazz, Drew averaged over 16 PPG per season while taking less than 14 shots per game. Despite being only 29 and 30 years of age during those two seasons, Drew would not have his career last too long following the 1985 season. The forward was suspended for substance abuse in the 1986 season and he never returned to the league after that.

6. Carlos Boozer - 19.3 PPG

(6 Seasons, 2005-2010)

Many fans do not remember how good Carlos Boozer was with the Jazz because he made 2 All-Star Teams as a premier double-double threat. A post scorer with a solid mid-range shot, Boozer was a great scoring option alongside All-Star point guard Deron Williams. For years, Boozer and Williams formed a great offensive option for the Jazz.

During Boozer’s All-NBA season in 2008, he put up 21.1 PPG and 10.4 RPG while shooting 54.7% from the field. Marking his second straight All-Star Team, Boozer proved to be a dynamic offensive player for the Jazz as the team made the Western Conference Semifinals. Unfortunately for Boozer and the Jazz, they kept running into Kobe Bryant and the Lakers which cut their playoff runs short for 3 straight years.

5. Truck Robinson - 23.2 PPG

(2 Seasons, 1978-1979)

A 6’7” power forward, Truck Robinson was an All-Star offensive powerhouse for the Jazz during the late 70s. Only completing 1 full season with the Jazz and 43 games in his second season, Robinson did enough to showcase his offensive capabilities. In fact, Truck made his first All-Star Team during the 1978 season by averaging 22.7 PPG and 15.7 RPG.

A dynamic two-way player, Robinson also played a whopping 44.8 MPG in the 1978 season because his production was needed by the team every night. The team failed to build a good team around Robinson, which is why they did not make the playoffs despite having an All-Star in their ranks. After 43 games in the 1979 season, Robinson was traded to the Phoenix Suns.

4. Donovan Mitchell - 23.7 PPG

(5 Seasons, 2018-2022)

Current franchise star Donovan Mitchell is an excellent offensive player, pairing athleticism with shooting ability for the title-contending Jazz. Even if the shooting guard is only 25 years old with plenty left to achieve in his career, Mitchell has gotten off to a great start in his career by making 3 All-Star Teams with Utah.

An explosive scorer at the rim and solid three-point shooter, Mitchell is getting more comfortable leading the Jazz offense every night as he continues to face different defensive schemes. Considered a modern version of Dwyane Wade because of his athleticism, Mitchell seems to have an above-average jumper that he can pull off anytime he wants. Donovan has averaged over 23 PPG for 4 straight years so far, so we could be looking at one of the greatest scorers in Utah Jazz history in just a few years.

3. Pete Maravich - 25.2 PPG

(6 Seasons, 1975-1980)

A Hall of Fame shooting guard that had his career (and life) cut too short, Pete Maravich is one of the most dynamic scorers in NBA history. A 6’5” guard with shooting and handles, Maravich captured fans’ hearts for the way he glided across the court with ease. Pistol Pete averaged an incredible 25.2 PPG for the Jazz over 6 seasons, and he should have continued his legacy further.

One of the most important players in NBA history, Maravich helped open up the NBA game in the 1970s because he had every skill and trick in the book. Whether it was behind-the-back passes or circus shots, Maravich always found a way to make the game exciting. Most players play the game in a professional manner, but Pistol Pete had his own style that made him a global icon.

2. Karl Malone - 25.4 PPG

(18 Seasons, 1986-2003)

By far the most impactful player in Utah Jazz history, Karl Malone is widely regarded as a top-15 player ever. The double-double machine was extremely proficient at scoring the ball from mid-range and in the post, and he did it at an elite level for nearly two decades. The Mailman was built for being a dominant scorer because he was one of the most physically impressive ever.

Standing 6’9” and weighing 250 lbs, Malone could not be shifted off the block when he had position. But he also had a soft touch around the rim and a very consistent jump shot, often pulled off after receiving a pass from his point guard John Stockton. Malone averaged over 20 PPG for 17 straight seasons following his rookie year for the Jazz, a feat that will likely never be achieved again. Even if Malone never won a title, his scoring record makes him one of the best big men to have ever played the game.

1. Adrian Dantley - 29.6 PPG

(7 Seasons, 1980-1986)

By just looking at his numbers, it is obvious that Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley is one of the most unstoppable scorers of his time. A 6’5” forward with strength and athleticism, Dantley is a superstar scorer known for his elite efficiency. Dantley made all 6 of his All-Star Teams with the Utah Jazz, scoring over 30 PPG for 4 straight years between 1981 and 1984. Two of those seasons resulted in scoring titles for the superstar forward.

Averaging 29.6 PPG over 7 seasons with the Jazz is impressive enough, but he averaged a whopping 56.2% from the field which is unheard of. Dantley knew how to get buckets as efficiently as possible, even if he was not a massive center getting easy points around the rim. As a total offensive package, Dantley is ranked 29th in total points scored in NBA history and is the most unstoppable scorer for the Utah Jazz by taking his 7 seasons into account.

Most Points In Utah Jazz History

Here are the ten players with the most total points in Utah Jazz history:

1. Karl Malone 36,374

2. John Stockton 19,711

3. Adrian Dantley 13,635

4. Darrell Griffith 12,391

5. Thurl Bailey 9,897

6. Andrei Kirilenko 8,411

7. Pete Maravich 8,324

8. Gordon Hayward 8,077

9. Deron Williams 7,576

10. Donovan Mitchell 7,548