Imagine stepping onto the court and facing a defender so gritty and unyielding that even your teammates shy away from guarding him in practice—that's the electrifying story of Elijah Harkless, the Utah Jazz's unsung hero whose sheer determination is turning heads in the NBA preseason.
In Salt Lake City, there's a playful yet telling annoyance that creeps in for Jazz guards Keyonte George and Walter Clayton Jr. whenever they spot their teammate Elijah Harkless lining up against them during open gym sessions. It's a signal that things are about to get tougher, and it's not just idle banter.
'Walt and I were laughing about it—like, when we see E standing there, we just bail out and skip the drill,' George shared with a grin.
But here's where it gets real: that hesitation might be more than just joking. When Jazz assistant Scott Morrison led the squad in the Salt Lake City Summer League, he singled out Harkless as the standout performer on a team packed with promising young talents like recent draftees Ace Bailey, Isaiah Collier, Brice Sensabaugh, Kyle Filipowski, and Cody Williams.
And this is the part most people miss—Harkless proved his worth yet again on Thursday during Utah's thrilling 132–129 preseason victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. He battled through picks, racked up fouls on opponents, snagged a few steals, and played a pivotal role in the Jazz's comeback surge.
He anchored a scrappy closing group alongside Svi Mykhailiuk, John Tonje, Taylor Hendricks, Mo Bamba, and Harkless himself, flipping a six-point hole against Portland's main starters into a win.
Jazz head coach Will Hardy didn't hold back in his praise: 'We often talk about those game-changing moments—the plays that fire up your squad, your partners on the floor, the fans, and everyone involved. Elijah Harkless embodies all of that. Every time he enters a game, whether it's a scrimmage in our gym or here at the Delta Center, his defensive tenacity is unmatched.
'He routinely draws at least one moving screen foul per outing, but it's his hustle and contagious spirit that inject life into the team. Watch how our bench erupts for his efforts—that's the kind of player he is, adding real substance to our roster.'
Harkless is currently on a two-way contract with the Jazz, which means he'll probably split most of his time between the NBA big club and their G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars. For a Utah team struggling with perimeter defense—in simple terms, that's guarding players on the outside who can shoot or dribble past you—this could make him a valuable asset upstairs too.
His performance on Thursday certainly backed that up.
'He's a fearless, fearless defender,' Jazz center Walker Kessler enthused. 'I saw him draw a couple of offensive fouls and navigate screens like a pro. Fearless is the perfect word, and it's a blast playing alongside someone that intense. His defense is obvious to anyone watching—it's genuinely motivating. Sure, it's preseason, but you get sucked into the action thanks to plays like that.'
At 25 years old, the guard knows his defensive hustle is his ticket to NBA longevity. And that's been his reality at every rung of the ladder. He's not the tallest, quickest, longest-armed, or most powerful guy on the floor—but he compensates with raw, unfiltered effort.
'It stems from my pickup basketball days as a kid,' Harkless explained. 'I had to lock down defensively just to earn a chance to shoot. Same deal here—I'm bringing that intensity to help the team.'
Now, that relentless approach is earning him a crack at the highest level, and he believes there's still untapped potential.
'I'm the top defender on this squad,' Harkless declared confidently. 'I'm putting in my case to be the best in the entire league.'
But here's where it gets controversial: Is claiming to be the team's best defender, especially on a team loaded with other talents, a bold statement of self-belief or an overreach? Some might argue that pure effort can transform an underdog into a star, while others say athleticism and skill are non-negotiable in the NBA. What do you think—can grit alone overcome physical limitations, or is there more to it? Share your opinions in the comments!
Isaiah Collier Injury Update
Jazz point guard Isaiah Collier has been sidelined for all four preseason games due to hamstring tightness that cropped up early in training camp.
Coach Hardy remains optimistic about his return, though the timeline is unclear. 'He's doing well. Our medical staff is with him daily, and he's recovering steadily. No setbacks so far,' Hardy noted. 'We're not rushing it—we need him fully fit so this doesn't become a lingering issue.'
Collier seized the starting point guard spot mid-last season, logging 46 starts and shattering the team's rookie assist mark—a record of how many times he set up teammates for shots.
Jazz Coaches vs. Media?
Over in Boston, media folks showed up for what they thought was an intra-media pickup game at the Celtics' facility on Tuesday. But surprise! 'Hate to break it to you,' Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla quipped, 'but you're not squaring off against each other. You're up against the coaches.'
It wasn't a joke, and the outcome was a foregone conclusion: a 57-4 drubbing where the media barely advanced the ball past mid-court.
'Let's save you from that,' Hardy chuckled about a similar matchup.
Wise call—and this writer breathes a sigh of relief—but what's Hardy's take on how Utah's media squad would stack up against him and his staff?
'I heard whispers of gambling on those two possessions—they were pushing for a total shutout,' Hardy laughed. 'Not sure about the 4 points. The game's duration? A mystery.'
For any journalists dreaming of their own showdown, Hardy offered a cheeky tip: 'Step up your training camp attendance if you want a shot at that game.'
And this is the part most people miss: These lighthearted rivalries highlight the fun side of sports, but they also spark debate about whether coaches have an unfair edge or if it's just good-natured ribbing. Do you think such games build camaraderie, or are they just ego boosts? Weigh in below!
The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.
