Luhm: Kyle Korver's willingness to help others has not changed

Life has changed for Kyle Korver.

The former Utah celebrity bachelor who played for the Jazz is now sharpshooting his way through a 10th NBA season in Atlanta.

He is married, the father of a 3-month-old daughter, and turns 32 in two weeks.

"It's definitely different from when I was here, living the bachelor life," Korver says. "But it's good. It's a welcome change — something I've looked forward to for a long time."

Korver and the Hawks stopped in Utah last week, midway through a six-game, 10-day road trip that left him a little homesick.

"It's hard to be [away] right now," Korver says. "You leave your family and you think of your wife taking care of the kid by herself."

Laughing, Korver makes a confession.

"I like changing the diapers; I actually ask to change the diapers," he admits. "She's not taking formula yet, though, so diapers aren't a big deal. We'll see in a month or two if I'm still changing diapers."

The Jazz acquired Korver from Philadelphia on Dec. 29, 2007, for Gordan Giricek and a protected first-round draft pick.

He spent the next 21/2 years in Utah, where he played 180 regular-season games and helped the Jazz go 54-28, 48-34 and 53-29.

In his final year, Korver shot an NBA-record 53.6 percent from the 3-point line.

He signed with Chicago after the 2009-10 season, before the Bulls sent him to Atlanta last summer for a trade exception and cash.

Korver remains connected to Utah, however.

Through his charitable foundation, he keeps giving back to the cities where he has played collegiate and professional basketball — Omaha, Philadelphia, Chicago and Salt Lake.

The SEER Group, which is the Utah division of Korver's foundation, has constructed 117 wheelchair accessibility ramps for families in need over the last four years.

"It's pretty cool," Korver said. "It keeps you connected in a community where you built a lot of friendships. It's kind of what it's all about, really. ..."

"I just feel like I've been blessed with opportunities and relationships and some creative ways of giving back. I guess that's what we're trying to do."

Korver's willingness to help others is, apparently, genetic. His father is a pastor in Pella, Iowa. His grandfather was a minister. So are two uncles.

" ... It's just living out your faith," Korver said. "We don't want to just preach with our words. We want to preach with our actions.

"That's where it comes from and — now all of a sudden — you're in the NBA and you get to do it a little bit differently than your parents. So it's fun."

So were his years in Utah.

"I loved living here — just the life here," Korver said. "I loved waking up and seeing the mountains every day — just the good lifestyle in Utah."