Jazz Notes: Tshiebwe, Collier, Kessler, Markkanen

Oscar Tshiebwe has continued to put up incredible rebounding numbers at the G League level this season, averaging an eye-popping 18.6 boards per game – including 8.3 offensive – in 23 regular season appearances (31.8 MPG). On Wednesday, the Jazz two-way player brought those talents to the NBA just hours after after playing for the Salt Lake City Stars in the G League.

Tshiebwe piled up 37 points and 26 rebounds for the Stars against the Mexico City Capitanes in the morning, then contributed four points and 10 rebounds for Utah in the evening, notes Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune. In total, it was a 41-point, 36-rebound day for the big man, who played nearly 60 minutes overall. Did he feel like it was too much basketball in a single day?

“No. The season will finish soon and I will sleep for two weeks. I’m good,” Tshiebwe told Larsen on Wednesday night. “This is a great chance, it is a blessing to be here. It doesn’t matter if they asked me to play five games in 24 hours.

“… We always think we stay young and that we’re going to do this the rest of our life. But we don’t know, it might end tonight, it might end tomorrow. I feel like today is all I have, and today I have to give everything I have. Every time I go to bed, if I feel like I didn’t give everything, I am so mad. I go back in the gym at night. And then maybe I go on the treadmill and run, and make sure I empty out my tank.

“Tonight, I will sleep. I played 56 minutes and had 36 rebounds. That’s still not enough. That’s my attitude. Today is the only thing you have, and you will never get to do it again. That’s what I do.”

Tshiebwe will be eligible for restricted free agency this offseason when his two-way deal expires.

Here’s more on the Jazz:

• Utah’s coaching staff is said to be focusing on “player development” as the season winds down. What exactly does that mean? Asked by Larsen what specifically he’s focused on with Isaiah Collier‘s development, head coach Will Hardy pointed to the way the rookie guard gathers the ball when he drives to the basket. “I think Isaiah is used to being a lot stronger than people that he plays against, and at this level, it just doesn’t work that way,” Hardy explained. “If you’re driving most of the time, there’s somebody on your side, and that person usually has, in this league, relatively long arms. So if I gather the ball and bring it to the middle of my body, he has a chance to swipe it. I think the elite players are very good at gathering on the outside of their body and protecting the ball so that the on-ball defender doesn’t isn’t able to get their hands on it.”
• The Jazz and Wizards ended up activating multiple players who were initially listed as doubtful or out for Wednesday’s game. Utah, for example, originally said starting center Walker Kessler would miss the game due to “rest,” but ultimately made him available. Josh Robbins of The Athletic believes league officials spoke with both teams about their player usage ahead of a matchup that loomed large for lottery odds. The Jazz have already been fined once this month for violating the league’s player participation policy.
• Utah has listed at least seven players as out for Friday’s game vs. Boston, with forward Lauri Markkanen missing a second consecutive game for personal reasons.
• As we noted earlier this week, Hardy has encouraged Kessler to start letting it fly from beyond the arc — Hardy has reportedly told the big man to try to take six three-pointers per game after he attempted just six overall in his first 50 games this season. That trend continued on Wednesday as Kessler launched six threes in just 15 minutes of action. He’s 2-of-17 from the outside in his past three games.