After suffering a season-ending injury, Utah Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks is finding ways to stay active off the court. One of the ways he’s staying involved is by drawing up plays for his teammates.
Hendricks designed a play for the team during a home game against the Phoenix Suns on Nov. 12. His play helped set up John Collins for a stepback midrange jumper, marking Utah’s first basket of the game.
“He was sitting over there, and the board was by him, so I sent the first group over, gave him the board, and said, ‘Taylor’s going to draw up the first play for you,’” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “It was fun. It was fun to watch him draw. It was even more fun to watch him explain it.”
Drawing up plays for his teammates while watching from the sideline was the last thing Hendricks or the Jazz expected for his second season in the NBA.
Hendricks had hoped to make a big leap as a defensive specialist in his second year. However, he fractured his right fibula and dislocated his ankle on Oct. 28 during his third game, a 110-102 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. He lost his footing while running down the court and landed awkwardly, causing the injury. Hendricks had to be wheeled off the floor on a stretcher.
At first, he didn’t think the non-contact injury was as serious as it looked.
“I thought I was good because the doctor that came over, he snapped it back into place and I was like: ‘I’m probably straight. I’ll be out for a week or two and then I’m back,’” Hendricks said.
However, X-rays revealed the extent of the damage, and Hendricks had surgery a few days later. He’s now wearing a protective boot and using a scooter to get around during practices and home games.
Hendricks is not cleared to travel with the Jazz and won’t be until he no longer needs the scooter or crutches, which will likely be in January at the earliest.
It was heartbreaking for Hendricks not to be able to play for the rest of the season, especially after he had put in extra work during the offseason to improve his game. In his three games, he averaged 4.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in 25.0 minutes.
Hendricks was drafted by Utah ninth overall in the 2023 draft and played in 40 games as a rookie, starting 23 of them. He averaged 7.3 points and 4.6 rebounds.
“I was definitely a lot more comfortable on the floor,” Hendricks said. “That’s really why I was so excited to play my second year just ‘cause I knew what to expect and I was so much more comfortable.”
Despite the injury, he’s tried to keep a positive mindset about his long rehabilitation. Hendricks said he’s not in a hurry to rush the process because he knows he won’t be able to return to the court until next season.
“Just keeping that in mind makes me really take it day by day and really take it slow and not try to rush anything because I’m not trying to rush for a certain date to play again,” Hendricks said.
The Jazz are also being cautious with his recovery. Coach Hardy said the goal is for Hendricks to return by training camp ahead of the 2025-26 season, but they don’t want to push him too soon and risk further injury.
“There’s no reason to talk about things like summer league right now because with an injury at this level, and how much we value Taylor, it’s about getting it right and getting it 100% right,” Hardy said.
