Brantley's Journey Moves Back to the Beginning

“My journey is my journey”.

After being cut by the Utah Jazz in 2021, Jarrell Brantley’s journey back to the NBA – and incidentally Salt Lake City – has been a long, hard grind.

It was through his performances with a resurgent New Zealand Breakers side that Brantley became the second NBL Championship Series participant to earn an NBA opportunity after new Washington Wizard Xavier Cooks – this time in the form of a ten-day contract with the side that drafted him in 2019.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“My journey is my journey… it’s just about getting better. You’re going to have critics, you’re going to have ups and downs. But I’m me.” – <a href="https://twitter.com/jstuntbrantley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jstuntbrantley</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShootaroundInterviews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ShootaroundInterviews</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ZionsBank?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zionsbank</a></p>&mdash; Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) <a href="https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/1637915021408862208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Brantley has embarked on a round trip from Utah, to Russia, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, and New Zealand, before landing back with the Jazz.

“My journey is my journey,” Brantley said. “You’re going to have critics, you’re going to have ups and downs, but I’m me, so I have to just walk that line and see if I can get better, and better, and better, as long as I play, and then be a good person. I would love the opportunity wherever it is to continue to play and keep growing.

Brantley played in 36 total games for the Breakers over his debut campaign in the NBL, where he averaged 16.2 points, six rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 blocks per game en route to a Championship Series appearance.

He, fellow import duo Dererk Pardon and Barry Brown Jr, and local guard Will McDowell-White are all out of contract following the conclusion of the NBL23 season.

Brantley says the wheels were rolling on a return to the Jazz months ago.

“Bary (Utah Jazz head of player personnel Bart Taylor) came to New Zealand maybe a few months back, so I guess eyes were up,” he reflected.

“It means a lot that the team that drafted me is still watching through everything through the process. It’s definitely been an amazing opportunity and I cherish it just as much as I did the first time, but now I’m doubling back on it.

He also says the experience of making it to the final two with the Breakers holds him in good stead as he continues to strive to become the best player he can be.

“We lost in Game 5 finals against Sydney Kings,” he said.

“[It was] another amazing experience just being able to play in a Playoff Series and be able to come back, make adjustments and grow.

“For me it sounds weird but it’s like a live simulation on how to get better. It was an amazing journey; I’m not going to lie.

Brantley’s first opportunity to suit up for the Jazz this season comes against former Melbourne Untied guard Matthew Dellavedova and the Sacramento Kings.

Brantley is wearing the number 55 for the Jazz.