Jazz fans look forward to team’s future after season ender

HOUSTON, Texas – Utah Jazz fans were few and far between in the packed Toyota Center in Houston for Game 5 of the Jazz-Rockets series. But despite their team’s season ending loss, Jazz fans stood their ground in the stands, were proud of the team’s season, and are already looking forward to the team’s future.

“We live here. I grew up in Utah, and I’m a huge Jazz fan. When the Jazz played the Rockets and Stockton hit that shot to beat the Rockets. I mean I’m a die hard, it’ll never change,” said Mike Johnson, who has lived in Houston for more than a decade now.

While Game 5 didn’t end in such a manner, this tenured Texan looks forward to his team’s future.

“Hopefully everyone sticks around. The camaraderie is great, so I think if we get that one extra piece than we can be contenders,” Johnson said.

Houston Rockets fans had the Texan charm.

“The fans haven’t been too bad. They’ve been pretty nice, but we’ll see once the game starts. It might get rowdy then. We like to be loud and obnoxious,” Johnson said.

Until tip-off, that is. That’s when they started taking shots, booing at Jazz fans pictured on the jumbo tron and cheering when the Rocket’s mascot Clutch put a pie on the image of Jazz legends John Stockton and Karl Malone.

Chris Jorgensen and Adam Eby could have cared less by the jabs at the Jazz. They traveled all the way from Utah to support their home team.

“This has been the funnest team to watch in years. They all seem to generally enjoy playing ball and they seem to have a great camaraderie together, and Donovan watching him dunk and get to the basket – it’s amazing. Love it,” said Jorgensen.

All the Jazz fans in Houston we spoke with agree, this team has been a fun one to watch. Now, their rooting for Donavan Mitchell to be named Rookie of the Year.