JAZZ: Get to know milt palacio


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Growing up in inner-city Los Angeles, it’s a little hard to imagine Milt Palacio enjoying the slow-paced life that Salt Lake City has to offer. Palacio, who signed this summer with the Jazz after playing the last two seasons in Toronto, stated what his favorite landmark in Salt Lake is so far. Well sort of. “You know what, I like the park, uh (pause),” says Palacio with a confused look on his face, as he tries to remember the name. “Sugarhouse?” someone asks. “Yes, great park,” says Palacio, 27, “I just go out there to relax, sometimes watch the guys play soccer. You know I like the outdoors.” While that statement can give Jazz fans an idea of who Palacio is as a person, they are still trying to see who he is as a player. It might surprise a lot of people that Palacio is entering his seventh year in the NBA. After going un drafted out of Colorado State, Palacio has played for Vancouver (now Memphis), Phoenix, Boston, Cleveland, and Toronto. In 80 games with the Raptors last season, the 6-3 guard averaged 5.8 points and 3.5 assists per game (both career highs) as the backup point guard. With rookie Deron Williams still learning the NBA game and Keith McLeod only having a year and a half of experience, Palacio is expected to provide veteran leadership at the point guard position.	The Jazz hope Palacio will help bring them back to the playoffs.
Palacio and his eight siblings were raised in Gardena, CA.	“He can get us into our offense, and execute our offense,” says Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, “I think he’s a good defender, and those are a couple things that he can help us with.” Palacio was born and raised in Gardena, CA, to Belize immigrants Clifford and Rita Palacio. Gardena is located in the heart of South-Central Los Angeles. Along with his eight siblings, Palacio had to grow up with the dangers of living in one of the Nation’s toughest communities. “It was tough, especially being an inner-city kid,” recalls Palacio, who spent his childhood idolizing Magic Johnson and the “Showtime” Lakers. “Having to get away from the drugs and the gangs. But my brothers kept me out of that.”
Not only did having five brothers and three sisters help Palacio stay out of trouble, but also kept him busy. “It was fun really,” says Palacio with a smile, “having a lot of siblings in the house makes it interesting.” After starring at Gardena High School, Palacio spent a year at Midland Junior College before transferring to Colorado State University. In his three years with the Rams, Palacio averaged 12.1 points, 4.8 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game. So far, in Palacio’s seven-year NBA career, he has not been able to reach the playoffs. Last season with the Raptors, he not only had to watch his team lose, but also self-destruct. The Raptors made headlines for all the internal fighting that was going on within the organization as a result of losing season. “It was tough especially in Toronto, with things being crazy,” says Palacio, “It’s good now, a sigh of relief. When people see me now, they’re like ‘you’re always smiling.’ It’s good to be in a situation where you have a chance to win.”	Palacio grew up idolizing Magic Johnson.
Palacio enjoys reading, watching movies and hanging out in his downtown apartment.	As grateful as Palacio is to be in Utah, his coaches and teammates are just as appreciative. “He’s been terrific,” says Sloan, “he’s been a terrific worker in practice and a good person to his teammates, and I think those things are very important.” “He’s a good guy, he’s really fun to be around off the court,” adds Jazz veteran Matt Harpring, “It seems like he has a great attitude about life and the game of basketball. And more importantly he doesn't’t have an ego. A lot of NBA players, you have to deal with egos and attitudes, and Milt doesn’t have that.” Palacio is also enjoying life in Salt Lake off the court. “I like it, everybody is friendly and everyone’s nice,” says Palacio. Aside from going to the Sugarhouse Park, Palacio enjoys reading, watching movies and hanging out in his new downtown apartment.
Palacio says he is starting to get more into reading, under the encouragement of his sister, who is a teacher. Both of Palacio’s parents were also educators, so it is no surprise that teaching is what he wants to do when he hangs up his number three jersey. “I would love to teach,” says Palacio, “I know it’s not the job with the most money, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. It’s in my blood. You know what? I’d even want to be principal someday.” The goal of teaching is still years away from Palacio’s mind. For now, all he wants to do is get the Jazz back in the playoffs. “Getting wins, that’s the biggest thing,” says Palacio, “With 56 losses last year, I’m going to try to turn that around. I believe this team is a playoff team.” - Gerald Narciso	Palacio would like to become a teacher and possibly a school principal someday.

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