Honestly, trying to pin down the Utah Jazz starting roster this season has been like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands. Just when you think Will Hardy has a set rotation, someone gets the flu, a rookie explodes for 40, or a veteran big man needs a "rest day" because, well, the NBA grind is real.
The Jazz are in a weird spot. They aren't exactly "tanking" in the traditional sense—at least not with Lauri Markkanen playing like an absolute flamethrower—but they aren't exactly title favorites either. They're a team in the middle of a massive identity shift. One night you’ve got a 37-year-old Kevin Love stretching the floor, and the next, it’s 19-year-old Ace Bailey trying to tear the rim off.
The Core Five: Who’s Actually Starting?
If everyone is healthy (which is a big "if" in January 2026), the lineup usually looks like this:
- Point Guard: Keyonte George
- Shooting Guard: Svi Mykhailiuk (or Brice Sensabaugh depending on the matchup)
- Small Forward: Cody Williams
- Power Forward: Lauri Markkanen
- Center: Jusuf Nurkić
Keyonte George has basically taken the keys to the franchise. He’s averaging nearly 24 points and 7 assists. He’s the engine. When Keyonte plays well, the Jazz look like a play-in team. When he struggles with turnovers—which happens because he's still basically a kid in NBA years—the offense stalls.
Then there’s Lauri. What else is there to say? The "Finnish Markksman" is dropping 28 a night. He’s the only reason opposing coaches still lose sleep when they see Utah on the calendar. But here’s the kicker: as of mid-January 2026, he’s been dealing with an illness that has kept him out of a few games, including the recent tilt against Chicago.
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The Center Drama and the Ace Bailey Factor
The big story lately is the lack of a true, consistent rim protector. Walker Kessler, who was supposed to be the "Block Panther" for the next decade, is currently out for the season with a left shoulder injury. It sucks. There's no other way to put it. Without him, the Utah Jazz starting roster has looked a lot "squishier" in the paint.
Jusuf Nurkić has been doing the heavy lifting, grabbing 10 rebounds a game and acting as a secondary playmaker. But let's be real: Nurk isn't jumping over anyone.
Enter Ace Bailey.
Ace was the fifth pick, and after dealing with some hip issues early on, he’s finally starting to show why people were losing their minds over his high school tapes. He’s 6'9" but moves like a guard. In the game against Cleveland on January 12th, he threw down an alley-oop that basically broke the internet. He’s moved into the starting role recently because of the injuries to guys like Kevin Love and Georges Niang (who is dealing with a foot stress reaction).
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Why the Lineup Keeps Shifting
Will Hardy is a tinkerer. He loves to experiment. If the Jazz are playing a fast, small-ball team like the Warriors, he’ll throw Kyle Filipowski or Taylor Hendricks out there to see if their mobility helps.
- Injuries: Kessler is out, Niang is out, and Kevin Love is on a strict "load management" program because he's 37.
- Rookie Development: Ace Bailey and Isaiah Collier need minutes. You don't get better by sitting on the bench next to the Gatorade cooler.
- The "Svi" Surprise: Svi Mykhailiuk has been surprisingly steady. He’s shooting nearly 39% from three. In a league where space is king, you can’t bench a guy who hits shots like that.
Is the Current Utah Jazz Starting Roster Good Enough?
Define "good."
If you mean "good enough to win the West," then no. Not even close. But if you mean "good enough to be annoying," then absolutely. This team just beat the Cavs 123-112. They play hard.
The biggest issue is the defense. Without Kessler, they are essentially a revolving door at the rim. Opponents are shooting a ridiculous percentage in the restricted area. Hardy has tried playing a zone, but as any Jazz fan on Reddit will tell you, it’s been hit or miss. Mostly miss.
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Also, the backup point guard situation is a bit of a carousel. Isaiah Collier has flashes where he looks like the best passer in his class, but then he'll have a game where he looks completely lost. Walter Clayton Jr. has also stolen some minutes because he literally doesn't miss free throws (95%!).
What to Watch For Next
The trade deadline is lurking. There are always rumors about Lauri, though the Jazz seem intent on keeping him as their cornerstone. The real question is whether they look for more veteran help or if they lean even harder into the youth movement.
If you're watching the Jazz right now, keep an eye on:
- Keyonte George's Efficiency: Can he get that field goal percentage up while keeping the assists high?
- Ace Bailey’s Minutes: Does he stay in the starting five once Markkanen and Love are fully back?
- The Bench Scoring: Brice Sensabaugh just dropped 43 points in a game recently. If he can do that consistently, the "starting roster" doesn't even matter—he’ll be closing games.
The Utah Jazz starting roster is a work in progress. It’s a mix of aging vets trying to prove they’ve still got it and teenagers trying to prove they belong. It’s chaotic, it’s frustrating, and occasionally, it’s brilliant.
To stay ahead of the curve with this roster, start tracking the "Minutes Played" trends for Ace Bailey versus Taylor Hendricks over the next ten games. This will reveal whether Hardy is prioritizing raw athleticism or defensive versatility as the team moves toward the All-Star break. Also, monitor the daily injury report for Jusuf Nurkić’s ankle; if he misses time, the Jazz will be forced to play "ultra-small," which fundamentally changes their offensive spacing.