Jazz great Dantley finally gets jersey retired

Most of the players Dantley now coaches either weren't born yet or were too young to remember Dantley's days with the Jazz. He said he was tired of the good-natured ribbing they'd give him every time the team visited Utah.

"Every time we'd come here the last three or four years, they would tell me, 'Oh, you weren't that good. If you was that good how come your jersey's not retired?' So I don't have to hear that anymore," Dantley said.

Dantley said he also wouldn't mind returning to the Jazz if there was a job opening in the future.

"I just told Larry that Jerry Sloan and Phil Johnson, they won't be coaching the Utah Jazz forever. So when they retire, give me an interview," Dantley said.

Dantley's is the eighth number retired by the Jazz. Pete Maravich was the first when his No. 7 was retired in 1985. Utah retired No. 1 in honor of Layden in 1988, followed by Darrell Griffith (No. 35), Mark Eaton (53), Jeff Hornacek (14), Stockton and Malone.

Dantley's relationship with the Jazz had grown contentious before the team traded him to Detroit in August 1986. He had clashed with Layden and a brief contract holdout in 1984 also didn't help.

But everyone said Wednesday that the friendships had long since been repaired, and Layden and Miller both campaigned for Dantley's induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Dantley was left out again in the voting last week.

Miller was initially reluctant to retire No. 4, but said he came around a few years ago and planned to honor Dantley after Stockton and Malone.

"I accept the responsibility for this being late," Miller said. "Adrian deserves the recognition from this franchise that he's getting today."