The Western Conference is commonly described as a two-team, one-city race. Meanwhile, the Jazz are the hottest team in the conference, having won 18 of their last 20, in relative obscurity. Their Wednesday thrashing of the Warriors at Chase Center was flexed out of the national TV schedule for Zion Williamson’s debut, an undoubtedly correct call, to be fair.



Williamson’s debut is the start of something bigger. The NBA’s broadcast partners, having noticed that Williamson got ratings at Duke, are mobilizing for the Grand Marketing Machine. There’s a new star on the scene and it’s time to let America know. There will be interviews and plenty of promotional material in the lead up to nationally televised games.



The Jazz are not quite part of the Grand Marketing Machine. The Machine never quite feted them, though it could check back if and when Donovan Mitchell reaches obvious superstar status. So there weren’t many media members in the...