NBA: Diaw ready for new challenges as veteran in Utah

Boris Diaw playing for the France national team in the Fiba OQT. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

After being a vital piece on a seasoned San Antonio Spurs team, Boris Diaw is looking forward to his new role that awaits as one of the veterans with the up-and-coming Utah Jazz.

Diaw spent the last five seasons with the Spurs where he won an NBA championship in 2014 before recently being traded to the Jazz.

“I’ll miss the Spurs. It was a great experience. I had a great time playing for them. It’s been four years of amazing. The organization was great. It’s very rare that you get a chance to play for a championship every year. Every year we were in the race.”

Being traded is nothing new for Diaw, who is now on his fifth team since being selected 23rd overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 2003.

The Jazz were one of the busiest teams in this year’s free agency. Apart from Diaw, they also acquired a couple more reliable veterans in Joe Johnson and George Hill, moves that could very well push the franchise back in the playoffs after falling a couple games short of making it.

“I’m gonna miss the people there, we had great fans. So many great memories from San Antonio,” said Diaw.

“I know it’s a part of a basketball career. We get to move and go to different cities and it’s not like the first time I’m moving from one team to another so I’m ready for the new challenge of going to Utah that’s a younger team and start a new thing.”