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Children take a photo with the Jazz Bear at the Children's Hospital in Lehi on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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Utah Jazz forward Oscar Tshiebwe high-fives parents and kids at the Children's Hospital in Lehi on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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Utah Jazz players Cody Williams and Keyonte George perform a dance with kids at the Children's Hospital in Lehi on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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Utah Jazz forward Oscar Tshiebwe speaks to kids at the Children's Hospital in Lehi on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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Utah Jazz forward Oscar Tshiebwe signs a jersey at the Children's Hospital in Lehi on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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Utah Jazz forward Oscar Tshiebwe colors with kids at the Children's Hospital in Lehi on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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When he’s away from the basketball court, Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams said he likes to go bowling, or hit the links and golf.

On Tuesday, he tried his hand at foosball.

Williams and his teammates, Keyonte George and Oscar Tshiebwe, paid a visit to the Primary Children’s Hospital in Lehi Tuesday afternoon — the Jazz’s first-ever visit to the hospital that opened in 2024.

The players introduced themselves, learned and performed a basketball-themed dance, then spent the hour hanging out in the hospital’s play room.

For Williams’ part, he spent much of his time at the foosball table, challenging kids to head-to-head games, then “officiating” matchups between kids. George and Tshiebwe sat and colored Utah Jazz coloring pages with the children.

For the youthful trio of players — Williams is 21, George is 22 and Tshiebwe is 26 — it wasn’t a hard sell to get them to come and serve, according to Utah Jazz’s Vice President of Community and Special Events Kari Larson.

“They love being able to meet with kids, especially because they know they’re fans,” Larson said. “And especially the young players, they remember the time when they met an NBA player for the first time, and that’s always an amazing experience for them to be able to give that back to someone, because they each have had that happen for them.”

Larson said the Jazz organization is fortunate to have a number of community partners they’re able to give back to. One of the most longstanding partners is the Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, which they’ve supported for at least 20-30 years.

With the opening of the Lehi campus, Smith Entertainment Group, which owns the Jazz and the Utah Mammoth, divided and conquered, sending the Mammoth to the children’s hospital in Salt Lake City and the Jazz to the one in Lehi this year.

Kelsi Moore, a child life specialist at the hospital, said it was an exciting opportunity to welcome the Jazz at the Lehi location for the first time, and that the visit was really meaningful for the kids.

“They’re often going through a really hard time, and so it’s so great for them to be able to take a break and just be regular kids,” Moore said.

Excitement filled the air when the first guest, the Jazz Bear, walked into the room, gave out some high fives and head pats and colored pictures with the kids. The buzz grew when the players, who returned to Utah early Tuesday morning following a road game in Houston, walked into the room.

Speaking to the children, the players were asked how they get out and move when they’re not playing basketball. Williams said he is a huge bowler but doesn’t quite have his own bowling shoes. Tshiebwe said his favorite thing to do is read.

“I always go up in a mountain, find some nice place over there, just quiet, and read a lot and write sometimes,” he said.

Smiles covered the children’s faces as the players sat down and began signing the Jazz jerseys that were handed out and took pictures. Then the players showed their own youthful exuberance — challenging kids to foosball, playing with silly putty and drumming out on a plastic drum set.

Later, the Jazz visited individual rooms of kids who were unable to go to the play room.

“The brand is so important to the community. So for us to be able to be out here and share that enthusiasm and excitement is actually really fun for us too,” Larson said.” And I think the players love that too. When they’re out and seeing their jerseys and the logo and everything out, I think they enjoy it. And really, it hits home for them how important they are and what they do is to the people and the fans.”