NBA Notes: Jazz, Isaiah Collier, Bucks, Kevin Porter Jr, European expansion

Jazz rookie guard Isaiah Collier recently surpassed Hall of Fame former Utah guard John Stockton’s longstanding rookie-season assists record of 415, a mark Stockton had held for 40 years, as relayed by Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune.

Collier, selected with the No. 29 overall pick out of USC, has become a key contributor off the bench for the rebuilding Jazz.

Over 70 games, including 45 starts, the 6-foot-3 guard is averaging 8.5 points, 6.2 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in 25.8 minutes per game. In comparison, Stockton averaged just 18 minutes per game during his rookie season, Larsen notes.

Collier has now totaled 434 assists as a rookie. The all-time rookie-season assists record remains at 868, set by former New York guard Mark Jackson. With four games left in the Jazz’s season, Collier has the opportunity to further extend his franchise-record assist tally.

• Larsen notes that Collier may finish among the top 40 rookies in first-year assists, an encouraging sign for his future potential.
• Stockton, meanwhile, remains the league’s all-time assists leader with 15,806 career regular-season assists. His average of 10.5 assists per game ranks second in NBA history, trailing only Lakers Hall of Fame guard Magic Johnson, who averaged 11.2 APG.

Bucks

• Recently acquired Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. delivered a standout performance in a crucial 121-115 overtime victory over the Heat on Saturday, writes Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Porter finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists. With Damian Lillard sidelined due to a blood clot, Porter has taken on a larger role in driving the offense.
• Porter sealed the win with a clutch late basket underneath the rim. “Fortunate enough I’ve been in those moments where one shot can win the game, or one play, so I just trusted my work, trusted myself and I felt good and confident when I got the trust in my teammates to make that last play,” Porter said. “Those are the moments we live for. I love being in those moments, and I’ll take that shot every chance I get.”

NBA Europe

Commissioner Adam Silver’s interest in launching a new NBA venture in Europe extends beyond potential financial gains, writes Joe Vardon of The Athletic. According to Vardon, the primary advantage would be direct access to a player development pipeline that has produced numerous NBA stars in recent years.

“The European development of the kids, especially in the Yugoslavian area, especially in terms of fundamentals, is 10 times better than in the States,” said Misko Raznatovic, former head of Mega Basket, Belgrade’s pro club, and current Serbian-based agent for Nikola Jokic. “This is the reason you are getting more and more players from Europe.”

Vardon explains that in Europe, there are no school teams; instead, top players join clubs operated by professional organizations. Unlike the AAU system in the U.S., where the focus is often on playing multiple games in a weekend, European programs place a stronger emphasis on skill development. Players showing early potential, like Jokic, Luka Doncic, or Victor Wembanyama, often transition to professional teams well before they reach high school.

“At the age of 15 you get Jokic, you get Doncic, that kind of player, if you don’t teach them how to play basketball, don’t develop their skills and don’t develop their IQ, they will score zero points because based on their athleticism, their quickness, they cannot score anything (in the NBA),” Raznatovic added. “That’s the reason that the guys from this area are getting more skill and a better basketball IQ.”