Utah had been home to one of the more successful teams in the ABA known as the Stars who won the Championship in 1971 and made it to the Finals again in 1974 before folding a year later. Despite the success on the court many questioned if an NBA team could be successful in Utah as the Jazz left the Bayou for Salt Lake.

Despite no history of Jazz music in Utah the name was kept in a cost saving move. After losing their first game on the road to the Portland Trailblazers the Jazz were beaten by the Milwaukee Bucks in their first game at the Salt Palace on October 15th.

The Jazz would get their first win in Utah a week later when they beat the San Diego Clippers 110-109. However, the wins would not come often for the Jazz as they finished in last place in the Midwest Division with a 24-58 record.

However, an important step was taken to improve the team as Frank Layden is hired as the team's new General Manager. One of Layden's first moves was to acquire high scoring forward Adrian Dantley from the Los Angeles Lakers who finished third in the league in scoring with 28.

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