Dave Checketts was 27 years old when he was named the president and general manager of the NBA’s Utah Jazz. He is often asked how he got that job at such a young age.
“I will tell you — no one else wanted that job,” Checketts said, sparking laughter from a luncheon audience. “The Jazz were a bankrupt franchise. The Jazz were being outdrawn by the Golden Eagles hockey team.”
Checkett’s father-in-law advised him against taking the job, but he moved forward anyway and found ways to make the payroll and draft the right people, with the help of Frank and Scott Layden. Drafting Thurl Bailey in 1983, John Stockton in 1984 and Karl Malone in 1985 paved the way for many winning seasons and eventually a new 18,000-seat arena, which will host the 2023 NBA All-Star Game this weekend.
“It’s my great blessing to look back and think about that,” Checketts said. “I’ve been in the sports world with different teams and companies for almost 40 years. The business has completely changed since 1983 when I became president of the Utah Jazz.”
Dave Checketts, a Latter-day Saint who worked in the sports industry for almost 40 years, speaks at a BYU Management Society luncheon on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
Trent Toone, Church News
Checketts, a Latter-day Saint, reflected on his career experiences while speaking about the topic of “Integrity in Pro Sports” at a Salt Lake City luncheon sponsored by BYU Management Society on Friday, Feb. 17. Checketts was accompanied by his wife, Deb, their daughter Elizabeth and a young grandchild.
Following his remarks, Checketts fielded some questions about various sports topics.
After his time with the Utah Jazz, Checketts was named the president of the New York Knicks and later became the CEO of Madison Square Garden Corporation.
In 2005, he founded the Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake. RSL won the MLS Championship in 2009. He was also the owner of the NHL’s St. Louis Blues from 2005-2012.
From 2018-2021, and Checketts and his wife Deb served as mission leaders of the England London Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Checketts was named to the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.
Dave and Deb Checketts, Reverend Dr. Andrew Teal, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and Elder Kyle McKay talk as they meet in Elder Holland’s office at the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
The Savior’s example of integrity
Checketts pointed out two major differences in the sports world since he started in 1983 — increased options for buying tickets to sporting events and the legal opportunity to place a bet on any sporting event. Legal sports gamblings, which was once illegal, is now widely accepted and generates $4.3 billion in revenue annually.
Checketts sees this trend as a “slippery slope” that may harm the future integrity of sports.
“To all of us who are gathered here, I submit that only personal honesty, personal integrity, only a commitment to live a life where the truth is highly valued can prevent the enormous shame and suffering that comes when we lose our way and find ourselves in the wrong places, doing things we never thought possible,” he said.
“In other words, brothers and sisters, holding on to the light of Christ and following the path of discipleship is a path which I suggest is full of integrity. Jesus’ life upon the earth was filled with integrity, honor and truth.”
Dave Checketts, a Latter-day Saint who worked in the sports industry for almost 40 years, speaks at a BYU Management Society luncheon on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
Trent Toone, Church News
An Apostle’s thoughts on integrity
Checketts talked about the experience of a young Elder D. Todd Christofferson in Washington D.C. as a law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge John J. Sirica, who presided over the Watergate trials. The experience shaped his career as a lawyer and taught him about the importance of integrity.
“Putting one’s integrity on hold, even for seemingly small acts in seemingly small matters, places one in danger of eventually losing the benefit and protection of conscience altogether,” Elder Christofferson, now a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said in 2018.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, tours the Upper Library at Christ Church, Oxford University, in Oxford, England on Thursday, June 15, 2017.
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
“A life devoted to service to others allows conscience to flourish,” the Apostle said. “Service provides a natural barrier against the ills that flow in the wake of self-will and self-interest.”
Checketts said Elder Christofferson has also warned people to “never let there be a Watergate in your personal history.”
‘Path of discipleship’
Checketts concluded his remarks by expressing gratitude for his Church membership.
“Over all of these many years, as I have been in the rooms of the most powerful decision-makers in sports, I thank my Father in Heaven every day for the path of discipleship, the opportunity to follow the Lord Jesus Christ,” he said. “May the Lord bless you with that same sense of right and wrong, your conscience, the light of Christ, to always stand for right.”
“May the Lord bless you with that same sense of right and wrong, your conscience, the light of Christ, to always stand for right.” — Dave Checketts
Missionary support
A group of former missionaries who served with the Checketts in England attended the luncheon. Max Miller, a former missionary and a recent graduate of Brigham Young University, introduced his mission president before he spoke.
“Every missionary truly believed they were in the best mission in the entire world, and a lot of that had to do with President and Sister Checketts,” Miller said.
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