This season is the franchise's 35th, and to commemorate it, The Tribune is doing a season-long project on the team's history. In all, 214 players have worn Jazz uniforms since the team formed in 1974. Continuing daily, columnist Kurt Kragthorpe ranks them all, from bottom to top.
No. 51 Jim Barnett Who he is ? A guard from Oregon, Barnett joined the Jazz's inaugural team via the expansion draft from Golden State when he was 30. He played 45 games before being sent to New York with center Neal Walk (No. 52) for guard Henry Bibby and a first-round draft pick, which was later traded to Kansas City-Omaha in the Ron Behagen (No. 56) deal. Barnett played two more seasons in the NBA after that.
Why he's No. 51 ? Barnett stayed in New Orleans long enough to register himself as the No. 3 scorer in the team's first season, averaging 13.0 points in 27.5 minutes and shooting 44.8 percent from the field. Barnett also was an 83 percent free-throw shooter, ranking ahead of Pete Maravich (.811) that season. Alt Heads:
