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[Saba Sports News] New Utah Jazz president Austin Ainge had some noteworthy remarks during his introductory press conference—but fans weren’t exactly convinced.
On Monday, the Jazz officially introduced Ainge, the son of team CEO Danny Ainge, as their new president of basketball operations. Previously, Austin served as an assistant general manager with the Boston Celtics.
During the press conference, Ainge was asked directly about the team’s stance on tanking for the upcoming season. His response was brief and confident:
Reporter: “Some things were done this past season to potentially manipulate where the team ended up in the draft lottery odds. … What is your philosophy, for lack of a better term, tanking?”
Ainge: “You won’t see that this year.”
That statement was met with widespread skepticism from Jazz fans online. Many pointed to BYU phenom AJ Dybantsa—projected to be a top-two pick in the 2026 NBA Draft—as a reason to doubt Ainge’s stance. Dybantsa’s local ties and star potential make him a dream target for the Jazz’s long-term rebuild.
The Jazz’s 2026 first-round pick is top-8 protected, meaning if it falls outside that range, it goes to the Oklahoma City Thunder. That reality only added to fan suspicion, with many finding it hard to believe the team won’t prioritize staying within that protected range.
Even if the Jazz were planning to tank, Ainge had little reason to admit it publicly—especially not on day one. Still, some fans labeled his hiring as a product of nepotism, underscoring the uphill climb he faces to win over a skeptical fan base.