The 1984-85 Utah Jazz season marked a significant period in the franchise’s history, as they continued to establish themselves as a competitive team in the NBA. Under the guidance of head coach Frank Layden, the Jazz finished the regular season with a 41-41 record. This performance was enough to secure the fourth spot in the Midwest Division and a playoff berth, a notable achievement for the team during this era.
One of the standout players for the Jazz was Adrian Dantley, who had an exceptional season. Dantley led the league in scoring, averaging 30.6 points per game, showcasing his offensive prowess. His contributions were critical to the Jazz’s success, as he provided consistent scoring and leadership on the court. Additionally, the team benefited from the solid play of players like Rickey Green and Darrell Griffith, who contributed significantly to the team’s offensive and defensive efforts.
In the playoffs, the Jazz faced the Houston Rockets in the first round. Despite a valiant effort, the Jazz were eliminated in a challenging five-game series. The series was competitive, but the Jazz were unable to overcome the Rockets’ formidable lineup. Overall, the 1984-85 season was a pivotal moment for the Utah Jazz, as they continued to build a foundation for future success, setting the stage for their growth in the subsequent seasons.
- Regular Season Record: 41-41
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-2, Western Conference Semifinals: 1-4
Utah Jazz Roster and Stats for 1984-85 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Adrian Dantley | 55 | 26.6 | 5.9 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 10 | 25.3 | 7.5 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Darrell Griffith | 78 | 22.6 | 4.4 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 35.9 | 10 | 17.5 | 2.9 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 36.1 |
| John Drew | 19 | 16.2 | 4.3 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Thurl Bailey | 80 | 15.1 | 6.5 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 100.0 | 10 | 16.9 | 9.2 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 0.0 |
| Rickey Green | 77 | 13.0 | 2.5 | 7.8 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 30.0 | 10 | 15.0 | 3.0 | 7.5 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 14.3 |
| Mark Eaton | 82 | 9.7 | 11.3 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 5.6 | 0.0 | 5 | 5.8 | 9.0 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 5.8 | 0.0 |
| Fred Roberts | 52 | 8.7 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 100.0 | 10 | 5.4 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Jeff Wilkins | 79 | 8.0 | 4.6 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 10 | 12.9 | 6.3 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| John Stockton | 82 | 5.6 | 1.3 | 5.1 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 20.0 | 10 | 6.8 | 2.8 | 4.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Bob Hansen | 54 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 14.3 | 8 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rich Kelley | 77 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 9 | 5.4 | 6.3 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| J.J. Anderson | 44 | 3.4 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Pace Mannion | 34 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 8 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Kenny Natt | 4 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Billy Paultz | 62 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 5 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
Utah Jazz in the 1985 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Houston Rockets
In the first round of the 1985 NBA Playoffs, the Utah Jazz faced the Houston Rockets, marking a significant moment as it was the franchise's first-ever playoff series victory. The Jazz won the series 3-2, showcasing the prowess of future Hall of Famers Karl Malone and John Stockton, who were pivotal in their hard-fought win against a formidable Rockets team led by Hakeem Olajuwon. This victory set the stage for Utah's evolution into a consistent playoff contender throughout the late 1980s and 1990s.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 1985 | @ Houston Rockets | W 115-101 | |
| Apr 21, 1985 | @ Houston Rockets | L 122-96 | |
| Apr 24, 1985 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 112-104 | |
| Apr 26, 1985 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 96-94 | |
| Apr 28, 1985 | @ Houston Rockets | W 104-97 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Denver Nuggets
In the 1985 NBA Playoffs, the Utah Jazz reached the second round for the first time in franchise history, showcasing the talents of stars like Adrian Dantley and Mark Eaton. Despite their strong performance, the Jazz were ultimately defeated by the Denver Nuggets in a hard-fought five-game series, highlighting their need for further development and depth to compete at the highest levels. This playoff run marked a significant milestone in the Jazz's evolution as a competitive team in the league.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 30, 1985 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 130-113 | |
| May 02, 1985 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 131-123 | |
| May 04, 1985 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 131-123 | |
| May 05, 1985 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 125-118 | |
| May 07, 1985 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 116-104 |
Utah Jazz 1984-85 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1984-85 season for the Utah Jazz.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26, 1984 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 102-94 | |
| Oct 27, 1984 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 103-94 | |
| Oct 30, 1984 | vs. New York Knicks | W 117-111 | |
| Nov 02, 1984 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 107-101 | |
| Nov 03, 1984 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 112-107 | |
| Nov 07, 1984 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 136-124 | |
| Nov 09, 1984 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 125-117 | |
| Nov 10, 1984 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 147-135 | |
| Nov 12, 1984 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 123-97 | |
| Nov 15, 1984 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 129-120 | |
| Nov 17, 1984 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 108-94 | |
| Nov 20, 1984 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 129-122 | |
| Nov 21, 1984 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 122-90 | |
| Nov 23, 1984 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 111-98 | |
| Nov 24, 1984 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 123-117 | |
| Nov 27, 1984 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 115-102 | |
| Nov 28, 1984 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 114-109 | |
| Nov 30, 1984 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 116-97 | |
| Dec 01, 1984 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 118-111 | |
| Dec 04, 1984 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 107-105 | |
| Dec 06, 1984 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 106-99 | |
| Dec 09, 1984 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 123-120 | |
| Dec 11, 1984 | @ Washington Bullets | W 85-82 | |
| Dec 13, 1984 | @ New York Knicks | L 119-115 | |
| Dec 14, 1984 | @ Boston Celtics | L 117-106 | |
| Dec 16, 1984 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 115-102 | |
| Dec 18, 1984 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 88-81 | |
| Dec 20, 1984 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 117-116 | |
| Dec 22, 1984 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 113-96 | |
| Dec 26, 1984 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 133-122 | |
| Dec 28, 1984 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 114-111 | |
| Dec 29, 1984 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 99-97 | |
| Jan 01, 1985 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 119-117 | |
| Jan 04, 1985 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 118-108 | |
| Jan 06, 1985 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 121-92 | |
| Jan 07, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 116-106 | |
| Jan 10, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 120-112 | |
| Jan 12, 1985 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 109-94 | |
| Jan 15, 1985 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 121-101 | |
| Jan 16, 1985 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 103-101 | |
| Jan 18, 1985 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 127-122 | |
| Jan 19, 1985 | @ Houston Rockets | L 120-95 | |
| Jan 22, 1985 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 102-99 | |
| Jan 24, 1985 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 110-109 | |
| Jan 26, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 96-83 | |
| Jan 28, 1985 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 104-100 | |
| Feb 01, 1985 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 121-109 | |
| Feb 02, 1985 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 105-104 | |
| Feb 05, 1985 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 126-106 | |
| Feb 07, 1985 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 114-96 | |
| Feb 12, 1985 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 122-110 | |
| Feb 13, 1985 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 94-88 | |
| Feb 15, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 109-100 | |
| Feb 18, 1985 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 110-94 | |
| Feb 20, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 110-104 | |
| Feb 22, 1985 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 102-98 | |
| Feb 24, 1985 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 117-108 | |
| Feb 26, 1985 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 103-96 | |
| Feb 27, 1985 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 119-100 | |
| Mar 01, 1985 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 119-115 | |
| Mar 03, 1985 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 121-93 | |
| Mar 06, 1985 | @ Houston Rockets | W 94-90 | |
| Mar 07, 1985 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 122-114 | |
| Mar 09, 1985 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 111-105 | |
| Mar 12, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 123-108 | |
| Mar 13, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 120-105 | |
| Mar 15, 1985 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 115-112 | |
| Mar 17, 1985 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 107-101 | |
| Mar 18, 1985 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 136-125 | |
| Mar 20, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 121-110 | |
| Mar 22, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 110-85 | |
| Mar 24, 1985 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 110-92 | |
| Mar 26, 1985 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 104-89 | |
| Mar 27, 1985 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 116-101 | |
| Mar 29, 1985 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 114-109 | |
| Mar 30, 1985 | @ Houston Rockets | L 106-96 | |
| Apr 04, 1985 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 119-118 | |
| Apr 06, 1985 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 105-94 | |
| Apr 09, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 123-104 | |
| Apr 11, 1985 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 145-107 | |
| Apr 12, 1985 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 96-92 | |
| Apr 14, 1985 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 104-102 |