Hill says Jazz wanted 'more vocal leader' than Hayward

Utah Jazz point guard George Hill, also known as "Indiana George," is settling into life outside of his namesake. Born in Indianapolis, Hill spent the better part of five season with the Indiana Pacers before a three-team trade sent him to Utah, where he's taking on a major leadership role.

Asked if Jazz management gave him a directive to fill a void in that department, his answer was overwhelmingly affirmative.

"Definitely so. They said that's one thing they wanted more of - a vocal leader here. I think Gordon (Hayward) is a great leader, but he's more of a lead by example," Hill said, according to Deseret News' Jody Genessy. "He's a very quiet guy, but he works extremely hard and everyone sees that. Everyone feeds off of that, but I'm just trying to bring a different aspect. He's a lead-by-example type of a guy.

"I'm a lead-by-example guy but also vocal because I'm the point guard. You need the point guard to be vocal. That's my job and that's all I'm trying to do here."

Hill, the first Jazz player to be named Western Conference Player of the Week in three years, has been sidelined for six games with a thumb injury, but he's not letting that interfere with his duty to lead.

"It's tough because I can't get out there and help and be out there and fight with the guys, but the leadership on the bench sitting behind and telling them things that I see," Hill said. "If it's not getting us enough energy, if it's not making something happen, just talking, getting a bug in their ear. I know they hear from the coaches a lot, but coming from another player that wants the same goals as them - and that's to win the game - is different.

"I'm always in Dante (Exum)'s ear. I'm always in Rodney (Hood)'s ear, in Gordon's ear. And they do the same when I'm in the game."