Former Tiger Tamar Bates making an impact in second professional season
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Tamar Bates joins Utah Jazz for his second year in the pros.
After his first season in the Denver Nugget's system, the former Mizzou hooper begins the next stage of his career with the Utah Jazz. Just three games into the 2026 Summer League schedule, Bates has averaged 10 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
Despite an injury sidelining him in the back half of his debut G League season, the time in the minors has helped round out his game and adjust to the new pace of play.
"Obviously in the G League, you get a lot more reps and a lot more time to develop, so you get really comfortable with the basketball in your hands," said Bates. "You know when you go with the Jazz, when I go with the team now, it's about seeing what my strengths are, how they best fit the team and the role that I can play to help us win."
You can watch the full interview with Tamar Bates in the video player above.
Bates may have spent his first year in Denver's system, but he's not unfamiliar with the people within Utah's organization. He had a pre-draft interview with the team, and has some relation with the people there before he signed his new deal.
Now even just in his second year, Bates is already looking to mentor the rookies going through what he was last season.
"I just have some experiences to lean back on. A guy might ask me a question as a rookie this year and even though I'm a year two guy, I do have some kind of experience that I can pull from just because, like I said, I've been in it for a year," said Bates.
One of those first year guys he's trying to mentor is another former Tiger: Mark Mitchell. Despite the two being in different organizations, Bates has done his best to be a support system for Mitchell, from the pre-draft process all the way into the summer league.
"Whenever Mark texts me, calls me, I just try to give him some things that maybe I didn't know last year or just answer any questions that he has, because at the end of the day, you can tell somebody as much as you want to, but everybody's experience is going to be unique to them."
Mitchell is hoping to earn a spot on the Grand Rapids Gold this summer, the same G League team that Bates competed for in the previous winter. So even with the two being in different places now, he can still lend a hand when needed.
The NBA Summer League action will conclude on July 20, 2026, with roster assignments to come in the following months.
