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It took just 25 minutes to clean up a 21-year-old oversight.
The Jazz honored one of their greatest players Wednesday night, retiring Adrian Dantley's jersey during a brief ceremony at halftime of the Utah-Denver game at EnergySolutions Arena.
Dantley spent seven years with the Jazz, leaving just before the 1986-87 season, when he was traded to Detroit.
During that time, Dantley established himself as one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history while helping a franchise freshly relocated from New Orleans rise from the ashes and become a perennial playoff team for the next two decades.
Jazz owner Larry Miller, who made the decision to finally honor Dantley, thanked him for the "credibility you brought the franchise when it was badly needed."
Seven former teammates were on hand for the retirement of Dantley's No. 4, including all-time NBA assists and steals leader John Stockton.
"Thank you for your example . . . and leadership," said Stockton, who called Dantley "a big part of us all being here tonight."
Stockton was referring to Dantley's help in stabilizing a financially-troubled franchise which was nearly moved a couple of times during the 1980s.
The group of ex-teammates who attended the ceremony also included Thurl Bailey, Mark Eaton, Pace Mannion, Fred Roberts, Ron Boone and Steve Hayes.
The first speaker to address the near-sellout crowd of 18,921 was Morgan Wootten, who was Dantley's coach at DeMatha High School in Washington, D.C.
"God doesn't make any perfect basketball players," he said, "but he sure got close with Adrian Dantley."
Wooten recalled how, as a teenager, Dantley would come get the keys to the high school gym on Christmas Day so he could go practice.
"He would let no one outwork him," Wootten said.
Former Jazz coach, general manager and team president Frank Layden thanked Dantley for "teaching us the sacrifices needed to win."
After a rousing ovation from the fans, Dantley spoke to them and joked about waiting to become the eighth member of the organization to have a jersey retired in his honor. He joined Pete Maravich, Darrell Griffith, Mark Eaton, Jeff Hornacek, Karl Malone, Layden and Stockton.
"They have an old saying that good things happen to people who wait," Dantley said. "I waited a long time. . . . [But] I'm honored to have my number retired."
Turning to Miller, Dantley said, "Larry, this is a day my family and I will cherish for the rest of our lives."
Dantley, now in his fourth year as an assistant coach with Denver, closed by asking Miller to remember him when Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan and top assistant Phil Johnson decide to retire.
"Bring me in for an interview," Dantley said, drawing laughter from the crowd.