23-year old shooting guard Wesley Matthews was signed as a undrafted rookie by the Jazz and all he did was play in all 82 games (48 starts) in which he averaged 24.7 minutes, 9.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He will be counted on in the playoffs as he will likely be starting at shooting guard. 23-year old shooting guard Sundaita Gaines played well when he got onto the court. He played in 32 games (0 starts) for the Jazz this year and he averaged 6.8 minutes, 3.3 points, 0.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. His big moment came when he hit a last second shot to beat the Cavaliers this year. 24-year old SG/SF Othyus Jeffers didn’t get signed by the Jazz until late in the season. He played in 14 games (0 starts) for the Jazz this year and he averaged 5.2 minutes, 2.6 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game.

23-year old rookie shooting guard has really stepped up lately. In his last 18 games, Matthews is averaging 29.7 minutes, 12.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Matthews is also shooting 53.3% in his last 18 games giving the Jazz a huge offensive boost. Matthews has now played in 77 games (43 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 23.9 minutes, 9.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

Guards Wesley Matthews and Sundaita Gaines both were undrafted last June but they have both helped the Jazz this season. Matthews has played in 56 games (22 starts) for the Jazz this season and he is averaging 21.8 minutes, 8.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He is back into the starting lineup at shooting guard for the Jazz after the trade of Ronnie Brewer. Gaines has played in 13 games (0 starts) for the Jazz and he is averaging 7.8 minutes, 3.7 points, 0.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Gaines will be most remembered for hitting a game winning shot against the Cavaliers in Salt Lake City as time expired.

The rookie Wesley Mathews has been a huge steal for the the Utah Jazz this season.  The Jazz didn’t even have to use a draft pick on him since the 6′5″ 220 lbs. Mathews was undrafted out of Marquette and the Jazz signed him as a free agent.  He has been playing with a big chip on his shoulder ever since getting passed up in the draft.  He has played in all 38 games for the Jazz (19 starts) and is averaging 8.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists on 48% shooting in only 23 minutes per game.  In his last few games, Mathews has really been effective in the short amount of playing time he is getting.  In the Jazz win over Miami last game, Mathews had 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal in only 18 minutes of play.  The game before that in a win over Dallas, he had 10 points in only 14 minutes.  In a win over Memphis on January 6th, Mathews had 15 points, 3 assists, and 1 rebound in only 20 minutes.  So, in three of his last four games Mathews has easily scored in double figures even though he averaged only 16.5 minutes in those four games.  This guy is extremely efficient and when he plays well the Jazz seem to win.  In the 16 games this season that Mathews has scored in double-figures, the Jazz have won 11 of them.  Coincidence?  I think not.  They really need to get this guy on the court more.

The Utah Jazz is a veteran team with little playing time for rookies. That is what led to the trade of point guard Eric Maynor to the Thunder along with the fact that it saved them a lot of money by including Matt Harpring in the deal. Maynor played in 26 games (2 starts) in his time with the Jazz and he averaged 14.0 minutes, 5.2 points, 1.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Wesley Matthews has been a real find for the Jazz as the guard signed with the Jazz as a undrafted free agent out of Marquette. He has played in 35 games (19 starts) for the Jazz this season and he is averaging 23.9 minutes, 8.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. He is also shooting the ball very well hitting 47.7% from the floor this year. Undrafted rookie guard Sundiata Gaines made his NBA debut last night. He played 21 minutes for the Jazz finishing with 3 points, 1 rebound, 5 assists and 1 steal. But, he was only 1 of 7 shooting from the floor and he will need to do better if he is to get playing time for the Jazz.