While the 2014-15 season for the Bakersfield Jam ultimately culminated in an early playoffs exit, that wasn’t the only way the season was defined. Before the season, I spoke with general manager Bubba Burrage and head coach Nate Bjorkgren, both of whom told me there were two main goals to the season:
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1. Develop the talent
2. Win
And while the latter wasn’t exactly met (and that’s in the loosest definition, considering the team’s widespread success over the year) the Jam certainly accomplished goal No. 1, in a season where far more went right than wrong. After all, the Jam went 35-16 on the year, posting the third best record in the league, and second best record in the Western Conference.
While a playoff loss to the Spurs was certainly hard to take (although this time it was the Austin Spurs and not that of the San Antonio-variety), it wasn’t the end of the world. After all, in a season where multiple players found their way to the NBA or received accolades, wins and losses wouldn’t be an accurate measure by which to judge the season.
Overall, the successes of players surrounding the organization far outweighed the disappointing result at the end of the year, and that success included players that started the year with the team, and players the Phoenix Suns sent down, which is where our slideshow begins…
Next: Goodwin's Year in Bakersfield