Utah Jazz executive vice president Dennis Lindsey has nothing but great things to say about small forward Royce O’Neale.
Two years ago, O’Neale was in mini-camp for the Jazz and Summer League with the New Orleans Pelicans. After showing Utah what he could do, the Jazz signed the swingman to a three-year, $3.8 million contract during the summer of 2017.
“The thing we love about Royce is his capacity for work,” Lindsey told Tony Jones of The Athletic. “He loves the gym, and he loves the grind. And he has a body that doesn’t wear down.”
Last season, Royce O’Neale played in all 82 regular-season games for the Jazz. He averaged 5.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 47.5 percent from the field, 38.6 percent from beyond the arc and 76.2 percent from the free-throw line.
O’Neale's stats will never jump off the page, but it's the little things he does on a nightly basis which make him a fan favorite in Utah. The 26-year-old is always the first one to dive onto the floor for a loose ball. As his offensive game continues to develop, the Jazz envision O’Neale being an effective 3-and-D guy for them next season.
After acquiring Mike Conley from the Memphis Grizzlies and signing Bojan Bogdanovic in free agency, the Jazz are projected to be title contenders next season. Utah knows what its going to get from Conley, Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Joe Ingles and Bogdanovic every night. It's guys like O’Neale and Dante Exum who have to take their games to the next level for the Jazz to win the championship.
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