From Rookie of the Year honors to pioneering the three-point shot, "Dr. Dunkenstein" provided the scoring punch and star power necessary to anchor the franchise’s move to Utah.
As the Utah Jazz prepare to make the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the franchise’s history has only one precedent for selecting in that slot. That came 46 years ago, when the Jazz, newly relocated from New Orleans to Utah, drafted Louisville guard Darrell Griffith second overall in 1980. His arrival marked a turning point for the franchise, which was still searching for stability and relevance following the relocation.
Griffith entered the league with national prominence already under his belt as the Louisville native had just led the Cardinals to the 1980 NCAA championship, earning the nickname “Dr. Dunkenstein” for his athleticism and flair.
The Jazz needed his undeniable star power, and Griffith delivered. He averaged 20.6 points per game as a rookie, winning Rookie of the Year and becoming the first piece of the puzzle in the team’s Utah era.
His early years were underscored by scoring and durability as Griffith averaged at least 20 points in four of his first five seasons, including a career‑best 22.6 points per game in 1984–85. He also became one of the league’s first proponents of the three‑point shot, leading the NBA in made threes in 1984 and helping usher in a style that would later define the modern game.
Griffith’s role shifted as the Jazz continued to grow, and the arrival of John Stockton and Karl Malone in the mid‑1980s reshaped the franchise’s hierarchy. Injuries, including a stress fracture in his foot, forced Griffith into a reduced role, but even so, he remained a key rotation piece during Utah’s rise to playoff regularity, contributing as a scorer and floor spacer as the team built the foundation for its sustained success.
By the time Griffith retired in 1991, he had spent his entire 10‑year career with the Jazz, finishing with more than 12,000 points and ranking among the franchise’s early statistical leaders. His No. 35 jersey now hangs in the rafters at Delta Center and serves as a reminder of his place in the organization’s history.
As the Jazz prepare to select at No. 2 for the first time since Griffith’s arrival, the historical parallel is uncanny. Whether AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson or Cameron Boozer hear their name called, they will be the final piece of a new era. The 1980 pick helped stabilize a franchise in its infancy, while the 2026 pick will be asked to help shape the next era, and even though the circumstances are different, the stakes feel familiar.
