The last three years haven’t been kind to Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks, having played in only 100 regular seasons games in that span.
He missed most of the 2014-15 and 2015-16 NBA seasons due to a shoulder injury and a fractured ankle, respectively. And although he was able to return in the second half of last campaign after undergoing an arthroscopic ankle surgery in November, he still wasn’t able to play much in the playoffs due to a lingering knee discomfort.
Despite his long battle with injuries, however, Burks revealed to Tony Jones of the Salt Lake Tribune that he never lost heart during his recovery.
“There were some frustrating times, but I never got down on myself or lost confidence,” Burks said. “It is what it is. People get injured, and it was something I needed to deal with. I cherish the game a lot more now. Three years is a long time. I was 23, I had never been hurt a day in my life. It makes you appreciate things a lot more.”
After participating with some summer pickup runs at UCLA this offseason, the 25-year-old Colorado standout also said that he’s looking a lot closer now to his former explosive self.
“I feel so much better,” Burks told The Tribune on Wednesday. “I’ve had a great summer, and playing at UCLA was the first time that I thought to myself that I’m back and ready to play like my old self.”
Burks averaged a measly 6.7 points in 42 games for the Jazz last year – a far stretch from his 14 points a game during the 2013-14 season before injuries hit him. Nonetheless, if he has indeed returned to his usual bounce, there’s no doubt that he can also boost his averages.
The only concern left for Burks is if he can stay healthy given his injury history. Though, Jazz fans will certainly hope for the best now that they also lost a former lottery pick in Gordon Hayward.
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