Ryan Smith Doesn’t Believe Utah Is a Small Market

Small Market teams exist in every professional sport league.

Despite there being 32 NFL teams, 30 NBA teams, 30 MLB teams and 32 NHL teams, let’s be honest, not all of them are created equal.

Some teams, and that teams history and location instantly make them more valuable to certain fans, sponsors, media and athletes themselves.

Teams that cater to more people due to the cities population, cover more ground through multiple media outlets and have more of a public reputation for the casual fan, largely find it easier to have more success or at least have more recognition.

Think of it from a comparative standpoint.

The New York Yankees? Big Market

The Milwaukee Brewers? Small Market

The Los Angeles Lakers? Big Market.

The New Orleans Pelicans? Small.

The Philadelphia Eagles? Big.

The Jacksonville Jaguars? Small.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that small market teams cant compete.

The NFL is especially balanced at having small market teams be competitive, even dominant at times, like the Kansas City Chiefs or the Green Bay Packers.

Big market teams themselves aren’t immune to being bad either with franchises like the New York Jets or Los Angeles Clippers being mediocre or worse for years upon years.

So although being a small market team doesn’t make you incapable of winning championships or being among the best in the league on a consistent basis, it does factor into the perception of an organization.

For example one of the smallest market teams in all of pro sports, is the Utah Jazz.

Utah finished with the worst record in the NBA this year and have one of the best opportunities to walk away with the #1 overall pick in the upcoming draft.

Yet many are speculating that the NBA themselves potentially wouldn’t want the best selection in the draft going to a team based in Salt Lake City.

The notion has no legs to stand on and is 100 percent in conspiracy theory territory, but when players such as LeBron James hint at the possibility you could imagine it spreads like wild fire.

This what James had to say during a recent March interview:

“During the ball drop, the lottery drop, Cleveland got the #1 pick? I just don’t think that, what a coincidence. Let’s keep LeBron home. Patrick Ewing to the Knicks, Derrick Rose to the Bulls, I understand the assignment.”

Even the biggest name in hoops since 2003 has a small inkling the NBA sets up certain scenarios for draft day.

The thought even reared it’s ugly head again yesterday when Ryan Smith, owner of the Jazz, was on the Pat McAfee show (the very same show LeBron made his hints about) on ESPN, discussing the rebranding of his NHL team, the Utah Mammoth.

Live from the Jazz practice facility the conversation shifted to the Jazz and the lottery that takes place mere days from now.

Smith was asked if it “creeps into” his head at all that the NBA could make the lottery less favorable to Utah as a small market team.

Smith’s response wasn’t a direct answer to the question, in fact he didn’t address it all, but rather was a complete dismissal of the notion that Utah is a small market.

Citing the economy, the college scene and the airport among other things, Smith states that Utah has “nothing in common with small markets.”

In fact, Smith postures that Utah does not have a small market problem, they have a “branding” problem.”

Smith isn’t wrong to highlight Utah’s growth, it’s apparent and it’s only getting more impressive by the day.

But is the state’s gains enough to bump the Jazz themselves a tier above franchises like Indiana, Charlotte, San Antonio or Oklahoma City?

Smith reiterated today that lumping things into big and small market categories is an old fashioned way of thinking, making it known that “There’s nothing small market about Utah today.”

You have to respect the passion to reshape people’s understandings of Utah and the power behind it.

Even with his points valid and his logic sound, how many people will actually ever submit to the idea that Utah should be punching with the Miami’s or Phoenix’s or Houston’s of the world, let alone the LA’s and New York's

I wouldn't hold my breath.

Listen, I could care less if the Jazz or Mammoth or deemed as a big or small market, I just want them to win and do so at a rapid rate.

If bucking the trend of zero championships has to include becoming a “big market” team then so be it.

Parade and push Ryan’s information every chance you get it.

It’s solid, it’s sound, it’s fun to think about.

But is it necessary?

Therein lies the question.