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The best perimeter defender on the Jazz roster

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There is one player on the Utah Jazz roster that strikes fear into the hearts and minds of ball handlers, one player who consistently is praised by the coaching staff for his constant tenacity.

That player is two-way guard, Elijah Harkless.

“We know what he’s about,” Keyonte George said of his teammate. “Even in open gym, me and Walt were joking that when we see E in front of us, we just get off it. Get off (the ball). Don’t even play.”

On Thursday night, Harkless was part of a ragtag lineup that made a comeback against the Portland Trail Blazers’ starters and eventually won the game. And the Jazz wouldn’t have been able to win if it weren’t for Harkless’ contributions on defense.

“We talk about winning plays, plays that inspire your team, your teammates, the fans, plays that give everybody energy, and I think Elijah Harkless represents all those things,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “He works so hard every day. Every time he checks in any game — a scrimmage in our practice gym, the game’s here (at the Delta Center) — he is relentless defensively.

“He usually draws at least one moving screen every time he’s on the floor. He gives the team so much life and his hard work, his infectious energy to the group is not unnoticed.”

And Hardy is not the first one who, unprompted, has wanted to shout out Harkless. Jazz assistant coach Scott Morrison said during Salt Lake City Summer League that Harkless had been the best player throughout practice — and that was on a team that included rookie Ace Bailey and eventual Summer League MVP Kyle Filipowski.

A number of times over the last year, Hardy, other staff members and players on the team have mentioned Harkless as being someone that is pushing the other players, makes the players around him better and is a horrifying matchup for anyone holding the ball in their hands.

And despite being on a two-way contract, Harkless is supremely confident in what he does best. When I asked if he thought he was the best defender on the Jazz roster, his reply was swift.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said. “I’m the best defender on the team and I’m putting my audition in for the best defender in the league.”

It is an indictment of the rest of the Jazz’s perimeter players that their two-way player is far-and-away the best defender on the roster. But at the same time, there is precedent and a blueprint for someone like Harkless to make a real name for himself in the NBA.

Oklahoma City’s Luguentz Dort, was fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2025 and started in every single playoff game en route to an NBA title. He too was an undrafted, overlooked player who had to cut his teeth in the G League before eventually signing a two-way deal and then having that deal converted to a standard contract for the Thunder.

So, don’t count Harkless out yet. He could have a much bigger story to tell down the road.

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