Gobert glad Jazz didn't tank: 'You don't learn how to win by losing on purpose'

The Utah Jazz suffered a debilitating loss in free agency when Gordon Hayward departed Salt Lake City to reunite with Brad Stevens in Boston. That could have been enough to send the organization on a downward spiral toward tanking in 2017-18 to secure a higher pick.

Bolstering the roster with more talent like Ricky Rubio and striking gold with the No. 13 pick in Donovan Mitchell has more than compensated for losing Hayward. Utah owns the fifth seed in the competitive Western Conference with a 40-30 record, and considering what the alternative could have been, new franchise cornerstone Rudy Gobert is thrilled the Jazz never waved the white flag.

"Just try to teach players how to make winning plays, not only good basketball plays but winning plays," Gobert told USA Today's Sam Amick when describing head coach Quin Snyder's system. "Teach every single one to help the team win games.

"A lot of teams are very good doing skill work, strength work. But if you want to win, you have to teach a player how to win. That's why I don't believe in tanking, all that stuff. I believe you learn how to win by winning. You don't learn how to win by losing on purpose to get a 19-year-old who you've never seen."

The Jazz have tasted defeat only twice since Jan. 24, and are currently in the midst of a nine-game winning streak, which is the third-longest in the Association behind Portland and Toronto. They're also one of three teams (Toronto and Boston) ranking in the top five in both defense and net rating.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver sent out a memo on Feb. 21 to all 30 teams stressing that intentionally throwing games wouldn't be tolerated, and that any team caught doing so would be punished.

This came as a result of Mavericks owner Mark Cuban saying during a podcast appearance that "losing is our best option" with Dallas far out of the playoff picture. Those comments wound up costing him $500,000.