NBA executives had guys like Chris Andersen in mind when they formed a development league this season.

Karl Malone scored 26 points and Bryon Russell added 17 off the bench to lead the Jazz to a 106-97 victory over Denver Monday night at the Delta Center, but it was Andersen, getting his first significant playing time for the Nuggets, who made the lasting impression.

It wasn"t just his 17 points that stood out but the way he played: Andersen was quick, athletic and aggressive.

""He had an excellent game," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. ""He came in, played hard and was active.

""Some of our guys said, "This guy really plays hard." Well, I wish some of our guys would play hard like that all the time."

Andersen, who last played collegiately in 1999 at Blinn Junior College in Texas, was the first-ever draft pick of the NBDL last fall, and the first-ever player to be called up from the development league by an NBA team.