Utah Jazz joined the National Basketball Association (NBA) as New Orleans Jazz, an expansion team that played in the 1974–75 season. The Jazz relocated from New Orleans to Salt Lake City, Utah, for the 1979–80 season.
Seasons NBA championsConference championsDivision championsPlayoff berth
Season LeagueConference FinishDivision Finish Wins Losses Win% GBPlayoffsAwardsHead coachNew Orleans Jazz 1974–75 NBA Eastern 9th Central 5th 23 59 37 Scotty RobertsonElgin BaylorButch van Breda Kolff1975–76 NBA Eastern 8th Central 4th 38 44 11 Butch van Breda Kolff1976–77 NBA Eastern 8th Central 5th 35 47 14 Butch van Breda KolffElgin Baylor1977–78 NBA Eastern 7th Central 5th 39 43 13 Elgin Baylor1978–79 NBA Eastern 11th Central 6th 26 56 22 Utah Jazz NBA Western 10th Midwest 5th 24 58 25 Tom Nissalke NBA Western 11th Midwest 5th 28 54 24 Darrell Griffith (ROY) NBA Western 11th Midwest 6th 25 57 23 Tom NissalkeFrank Layden NBA Western 9th Midwest 5th 30 52 23 Frank Layden NBA Western 2nd Midwest 1st 45 37 — Won First round (Nuggets) 3–2 Lost conference semifinals (Suns) 4–2 Frank Layden (COY, EOY, JWKC) Adrian Dantley (CPOY) NBA Western 6th Midwest 4th 41 41 11 Won First round (Rockets) 3–2 Lost conference semifinals (Nuggets) 4–1 Mark Eaton (DPOY) NBA Western 5th Midwest 4th 42 40 9 Lost First round (Mavericks) 3–1 NBA Western 4th Midwest 2nd 44 38 11 Lost First round (Warriors) 3–2 NBA Western 5th Midwest 3rd 47 35 7 Won First round (Trail Blazers) 3–1 Lost conference semifinals (Lakers) 4–3 NBA Western 2nd Midwest 1st 51 31 — Lost First round (Warriors) 3–0 Mark Eaton (DPOY)Karl Malone (ASG MVP)Thurl Bailey (JWKC) Frank LaydenJerry Sloan NBA Western 4th Midwest 2nd 55 27 1 Lost First round (Suns) 3–2 Jerry Sloan NBA Western 5th Midwest 2nd 54 28 1 Won First round (Suns) 3–1 Lost conference semifinals (Trail Blazers) 4–1 NBA Western 2nd Midwest 1st 55 27 — Won First round (Clippers) 3–2 Won conference semifinals (SuperSonics) 4–1 Lost conference finals (Trail Blazers) 4–2 NBA Western 6th Midwest 3rd 47 35 8 Lost First round (SuperSonics) 3–2 Karl Malone (ASG MVP) John Stockton (ASG MVP) NBA Western 5th Midwest 3rd 53 29 5 Won First round (Spurs) 3–1 Won conference semifinals (Nuggets) 4–3 Lost conference finals (Rockets) 4–1 NBA Western 3rd Midwest 2nd 60 22 2 Lost First round (Rockets) 3–2 NBA Western 3rd Midwest 2nd 55 27 4 Won First round (Trail Blazers) 3–2 Won conference semifinals (Spurs) 4–2 Lost conference finals (SuperSonics) 4–3 NBA Western 1st Midwest 1st 64 18 — Won First round (Clippers) 3–0 Won conference semifinals (Lakers) 4–1 Won conference finals (Rockets) 4–2 Lost NBA Finals (Bulls) 4–2 Karl Malone (MVP) NBA Western 1st Midwest 1st 62 20 — Won First round (Rockets) 3–2 Won conference semifinals (Spurs) 4–1 Won conference finals (Lakers) 4–0 Lost NBA Finals (Bulls) 4–2 NBAA lockout shortened the season to 50 games. Western 3rd Midwest 2nd 37 13 — Won First round (Kings) 3–2 Lost conference semifinals (Trail Blazers) 4–2 Karl Malone (MVP) NBA Western 2nd Midwest 1st 55 27 — Won First round (SuperSonics) 3–2 Lost conference semifinals (Trail Blazers) 4–1 NBA Western 4th Midwest 2nd 53 29 5 Lost First round (Mavericks) 3–2 NBA Western 8th Midwest 4th 44 38 14 Lost First round (Kings) 3–1 NBA Western 7th Midwest 4th 47 35 13 Lost First round (Kings) 4–1 NBA Western 9th Midwest 7th 42 40 16 NBA Western 14th Northwest 5th 26 56 26 NBA Western 9th Northwest 2nd 41 41 3 NBA Western 4thIn this season, each division winner was automatically seeded no worse than 4th place. The Jazz were the Northwest Division winner (51–31), but had a worse record than the Spurs (58–24) who were seeded 3rd and the Jazz was seeded 4th. In the first round, the 5th seed Rockets (52–30) had a better record than the 4th seed Jazz, so the Rockets were awarded home-court advantage even with a lower seed. Northwest 1st 51 31 — Won First round (Rockets) 4–3 Won conference semifinals (Warriors) 4–1 Lost conference finals (Spurs) 4–1 NBA Western 4thIn this season, each division winner was automatically seeded no worse than 4th place. The Jazz were the Northwest division winner (54–28), with a worse record than 3rd place team Spurs (56–26). While the Rockets were 55–27, tied with the Suns who were also 55–27 (neither of the two teams were a division winner), so even though the Jazz were awarded 4th place, in the first round faced the Rockets (Rockets higher than Suns due to higher records in versus with rest of Western Conference teams) with no home court advantage. Northwest 1st 54 28 — Won First round (Rockets) 4–2 Lost conference semifinals (Lakers) 4–2 NBA Western 8th Northwest 3rd 48 34 6 Lost First round (Lakers) 4–1 NBA Western 5th Northwest 2nd 53 29 — Won First round (Nuggets) 4–2 Lost conference semifinals (Lakers) 4–0 NBA Western 11th Northwest 4th 39 43 16 Jerry SloanTyrone Corbin NBAA lockout shortened the season to 66 games. Western 8th Northwest 3rd 36 30 11 Lost First round (Spurs) 4–0 Tyrone Corbin NBA Western 9th Northwest 3rd 43 39 17 NBA Western 15th Northwest 5th 25 57 34 NBA Western 11th Northwest 3rd 38 44 13 Quin Snyder NBA Western 9th Northwest 3rd 40 42 15 NBA Western 5th Northwest 1st 51 31 — Won First round (Clippers) 4–3 Lost conference semifinals (Warriors) 4–0 NBA Western 5th Northwest 3rd 48 34 1 Won First round (Thunder) 4–2 Lost conference semifinals (Rockets) 4–1 Rudy Gobert (DPOY) NBA Western 5th Northwest 3rd 50 32 4 Lost First round (Rockets) 4–1 Rudy Gobert (DPOY) NBA Western 6th Northwest 3rd 44 28 1.5 Lost First round (Nuggets) 4–3 NBA Western 1st Northwest 1st 52 20 — Won First round (Grizzlies) 4–1 Lost conference semifinals (Clippers) 4–2 Rudy Gobert (DPOY)Jordan Clarkson (SIX) NBA Western 5th Northwest 1st 49 33 — Lost First round (Mavericks) 4–2 NBA Western 12th Northwest 4th 37 45 16 Lauri Markkanen (MIP) Will Hardy NBA Western 12th Northwest 4th 31 51 26 NBA Western 15th Northwest 5th 17 65 51 NBA Western 15th Northwest 5th 22 60 42 All-time regular and playoff totals 2,351 2,137 1974–presentRegular season totals 2,216 1,980 Playoff totals 135 157 Playoff Series Record: 25–31
Footnotes