Deron Williams shares what made the mid-2000s Utah Jazz squad ahead of its time

When looking deeper at Utah’s roster at the time, fans could realize just how modern their roster construction really was. Williams formed an efficient tandem with Carlos Boozer, who was then a …

The mid-2000s Utah Jazz are often overlooked by fans when discussing that era of the NBA. After all, the Western Conference was already home to the league’s powerhouses, such as the dynastic San Antonio Spurs, the Seven Seconds or Less Phoenix Suns and the Kobe Bryant-led Los Angeles Lakers.

Still, the Jazz quietly built one of the most balanced and efficient teams in the league. At the center was Deron Williams, who spoke on the “Out The Mud” podcast to share what made them ahead of their time.

A perfectly-built team

Selected third overall in the 2005 NBA Draft, Williams, a complete guard whose facilitating skills allowed his deceptively quick athleticism to reign supreme on offense, was stepping into a structured system under Hall of Fame head coach Jerry Sloan, and a city reeling from the retirement of John Stockton just two seasons prior.

Despite the pressure, Williams explained that his first couple of years were just him playing basketball in its rawest form, made easier by the roster structure that let him fit in seamlessly.

“When you come into the league, you just hooping, man. You don’t know about the politics, the s—t that’s going on in the league,” he said. “So my first like three, four years it was just pure basketball, hooping, not giving a f—k. And playing with those guys, the team was kind of built perfectly, you know?”

“Me and Booz clicked with the pick and roll. We had Memo (Mehmet Okur), who was kind of ahead of his time — like Memo playing right now? Memo going to make a couple hundred,” added Williams.

When looking deeper at Utah’s roster at the time, fans could realize just how modern their roster construction really was. Williams formed an efficient tandem with Carlos Boozer, who was then a two-time All-Star due to his tenacity around the boards and reliable mid-range jumper.

Completing the frontcourt was Okur, a 6’11 stretch big man who shot 37 percent from long range his whole career. At a time when traditional centers dominated the paint and had not yet been expected to be viable weapons outside of it, Memo could space the floor, which made Sloan’s offense a peculiar riddle at the time.

Then there was Andrei Kirlenko, who was and is still considered one of the most underrated and underappreciated players in league history. AK-47 earned multiple All-Defensive Team honors due to his undeniable ability to protect the rim and defend both big men and guards. Not to mention that he led the league in blocks per game with 3.3 in 2005 as a forward.

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“And AK, just, if he could shoot, he would have been one of the best players in the league, hands down,” Williams declared. “He played hard defense, lock up, could pass that thing, can rebound, block shots. He could do everything except shoot consistently.”

Williams believes they would’ve beaten the Cavaliers in the 2007 Finals

While fans may think Williams is overrating the team a little too much, his comments still hold weight, especially given that they reached the Western Conference finals in 2007 after missing the playoffs the previous two seasons.

The postseason run was far from easy. The Jazz knocked off the Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming-led Houston Rockets in the first round in a grueling seven-game series before dominating the We Believe Golden State Warriors, who beat the one-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round, in six games in the second round.

Their run ultimately ended in the conference finals against the Spurs in five games, who went on to sweep a young LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. For Williams, the team and their momentum were so good that he believed they would’ve won the championship if they had found a way to get past San Antonio.

“If there was no San Antonio, I think we could have beaten Cleveland that year,” he stated.

The Jazz would remain one of the most dangerous teams in the West in the years that followed. Though they never broke through for a championship, those Utah teams are still notable for embracing depth before the league ever truly did.

This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Source: Utah News