Zach Wilson was a good luck charm for the local Jazz

The NBA’s Utah Jazz bid farewell to a beloved No. 2 on Wednesday, trading veteran forward/guard Joe Ingles to the Portland Trail Blazers. Almost immediately, however, another has arrived to take Ingles’ digit, if only for a short while.

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson and his younger brother Isaac were on hand at Vivint Arena to witness the Jazz’s 111-85 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Salt Lake City.

Wilson has apparently embarked on a hardwood tour of his home state of Utah since his offseason got underway – previously, he and former collegiate receiver Dax Milne were in attendance to see their alma mater BYU battle second-ranked Gonzaga in Provo over the weekend.

Wilson, a Utah native, remains a beloved figure in the state for his exploits with BYU’s football program, endeavors that led the Jets to take him with the second overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft. His brother Isaac, part of the class of 2024, could be poised to follow in his footsteps, as he has been offered a scholarship as a quarterback.

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The Jazz shared photos of Wilson’s visit to the arena on their official social accounts, nothing that they “loved” hosting him. Though some chide Wilson over his immediate “takeover” of Ingles’ number, he did receive a warm welcome from Jazz supporters in the midst of their nationally televised win.

Wilson is no stranger to exchanging the pigskin for the roundball. He previously starred as a point guard at Corner Canyon High School in his hometown of Draper and had the potential to continue his hardwood career at the junior college level.

More recently, running back and fellow New York 2021 draftee Michael Carter praised Wilson’s basketball skills, prompting the thrower to post his amateur submission to the NBA’s upcoming Slam Dunk Contest while challenging fellow two-sport star Josh McCown to such a showdown.

While Wilson previously pledged his metropolitan basketball loyalty to the Brooklyn Nets, it’s easy to see why he’s opted for more local endeavors. Utah (34-21) currently sits in fourth place in the Western Conference and is looking to build upon a 52-win season that ended early in the conference semifinals. Led by the efforts of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert (each of whom will partake in the upcoming NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland), the Jazz will visit Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Mar. 21.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags