Utah is in the playoffs one season after trading away their franchise player in Deron Williams and seemingly entering a rebuilding phase.

But Kevin O'Connor insisted before the season began that the Jazz would be competitive.

"I don't ever want to sound like 'I told you so,' " O'Connor said during an end-of-season interview. "But at the beginning of the year, I think we talked about not being in a rebuilding year."

O'Connor had faith in veterans Al Jefferson, Devin Harris and Paul Millsap, while also believing Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors would improve in their second NBA season.

"We just felt we were better than everyone else thought we were," O'Connor said. "That's nice to come out of that and prove it. You have to prove it on the court and I think we did."

O'Connor was asked if he believes the Jazz are on a path to a title.

"We always are striving for that, whether it keeps us on that or puts us on that I don't know. You never know that.…But I don't think we're treading water, because if you brought everyone back from this team next year we'd be better.…Every player can get better next year and that's going to improve us and if we can add a piece that's really gonna help."