The 1982-83 Utah Jazz season marked the team’s ninth year in the NBA. Under head coach Frank Layden, the Jazz aimed to improve their standing in the league. Despite their efforts, they finished with a 30-52 record, placing them 10th in the Western Conference. This record was a slight improvement over the previous season’s performance.
The Jazz were led by star player Adrian Dantley, who had a standout season. Dantley was the league’s scoring champion, averaging 30.3 points per game. His scoring prowess was a key factor in many of the team’s victories. Another significant contributor was guard Darrell Griffith, who provided offensive support alongside Dantley.
Despite Dantley’s individual success, the Jazz struggled defensively and had issues with consistency, which hindered their playoff aspirations. The team’s inability to string together wins resulted in them missing the playoffs for the ninth consecutive year. Key challenges included a lack of depth and defensive weaknesses, which opponents often exploited.
Off the court, the Jazz were dealing with financial difficulties, which impacted their ability to make significant roster changes. Nevertheless, the performances of players like Dantley provided hope for the future. The 1982-83 season was a building block for the franchise as they continued to search for a winning formula to transform their fortunes in subsequent seasons.
- Regular Season Record: 30-52
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Utah Jazz Roster and Stats for 1982-83 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Adrian Dantley | 22 | 30.7 | 6.4 | 4.8 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Darrell Griffith | 77 | 22.2 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 29.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| John Drew | 44 | 21.2 | 5.3 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Rickey Green | 78 | 14.3 | 2.9 | 8.9 | 2.6 | 0.1 | 15.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Danny Schayes | 50 | 12.4 | 9.0 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jeff Wilkins | 81 | 11.5 | 7.4 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Ben Poquette | 75 | 11.0 | 6.9 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 19.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jerry Eaves | 82 | 9.3 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 12.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| J.J. Anderson | 52 | 8.9 | 5.4 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Rich Kelley | 32 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Freeman Williams | 18 | 5.1 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 28.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Mark Eaton | 81 | 4.3 | 5.7 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 3.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Kenny Natt | 22 | 3.9 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Rickey Williams | 44 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Utah Jazz 1982-83 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1982-83 season for the Utah Jazz.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 1982 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 120-114 | |
| Oct 30, 1982 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 128-123 | |
| Nov 02, 1982 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 120-92 | |
| Nov 04, 1982 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 119-104 | |
| Nov 06, 1982 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 104-101 | |
| Nov 09, 1982 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 118-104 | |
| Nov 10, 1982 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 125-119 | |
| Nov 12, 1982 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 106-98 | |
| Nov 17, 1982 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 101-97 | |
| Nov 19, 1982 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 127-111 | |
| Nov 23, 1982 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 121-99 | |
| Nov 24, 1982 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 119-106 | |
| Nov 26, 1982 | @ Boston Celtics | L 137-103 | |
| Nov 27, 1982 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 126-113 | |
| Nov 30, 1982 | @ New York Knicks | L 124-93 | |
| Dec 02, 1982 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 119-112 | |
| Dec 04, 1982 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 131-124 | |
| Dec 05, 1982 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 119-111 | |
| Dec 07, 1982 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 137-121 | |
| Dec 08, 1982 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 101-93 | |
| Dec 10, 1982 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 128-122 | |
| Dec 11, 1982 | @ Houston Rockets | W 101-94 | |
| Dec 15, 1982 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 119-113 | |
| Dec 17, 1982 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 110-103 | |
| Dec 18, 1982 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 116-97 | |
| Dec 20, 1982 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 119-117 | |
| Dec 22, 1982 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 124-100 | |
| Dec 25, 1982 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 111-101 | |
| Dec 26, 1982 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 120-118 | |
| Dec 28, 1982 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 105-98 | |
| Dec 29, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 109-92 | |
| Dec 30, 1982 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 115-114 | |
| Jan 01, 1983 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 127-112 | |
| Jan 04, 1983 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 100-88 | |
| Jan 05, 1983 | vs. San Diego Clippers | L 122-115 | |
| Jan 07, 1983 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 139-117 | |
| Jan 08, 1983 | @ Houston Rockets | W 87-82 | |
| Jan 11, 1983 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 106-98 | |
| Jan 12, 1983 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 126-118 | |
| Jan 15, 1983 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 107-105 | |
| Jan 16, 1983 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 115-111 | |
| Jan 19, 1983 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 103-95 | |
| Jan 21, 1983 | vs. New York Knicks | W 108-93 | |
| Jan 22, 1983 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 126-88 | |
| Jan 25, 1983 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 116-106 | |
| Jan 27, 1983 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 120-106 | |
| Jan 29, 1983 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 126-109 | |
| Feb 02, 1983 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 112-96 | |
| Feb 04, 1983 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 122-110 | |
| Feb 05, 1983 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 143-136 | |
| Feb 09, 1983 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 113-99 | |
| Feb 10, 1983 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 105-99 | |
| Feb 16, 1983 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 112-101 | |
| Feb 18, 1983 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 101-97 | |
| Feb 20, 1983 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 107-97 | |
| Feb 22, 1983 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 99-98 | |
| Feb 24, 1983 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 110-103 | |
| Feb 26, 1983 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 101-92 | |
| Feb 27, 1983 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 101-98 | |
| Mar 01, 1983 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 127-105 | |
| Mar 03, 1983 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 118-113 | |
| Mar 05, 1983 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 127-121 | |
| Mar 06, 1983 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 110-105 | |
| Mar 09, 1983 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 122-109 | |
| Mar 11, 1983 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 119-110 | |
| Mar 13, 1983 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 130-117 | |
| Mar 16, 1983 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 125-115 | |
| Mar 19, 1983 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 99-94 | |
| Mar 22, 1983 | @ Washington Bullets | L 121-98 | |
| Mar 23, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 124-104 | |
| Mar 25, 1983 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 119-117 | |
| Mar 27, 1983 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 122-108 | |
| Mar 29, 1983 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 115-107 | |
| Mar 30, 1983 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 117-103 | |
| Apr 01, 1983 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 112-108 | |
| Apr 05, 1983 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 126-97 | |
| Apr 08, 1983 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 112-97 | |
| Apr 09, 1983 | vs. Kansas City Kings | L 108-102 | |
| Apr 12, 1983 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 125-116 | |
| Apr 13, 1983 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 106-99 | |
| Apr 15, 1983 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 121-118 | |
| Apr 16, 1983 | @ Houston Rockets | W 126-117 |