The Utah Jazz are planning to sign guard Tamar Bates to a two-way contract, according to NBA insider Michael Scotto. The move gives Utah another young perimeter scorer after Bates spent his rookie professional season with the Denver Nuggets organization, where a foot injury limited his NBA opportunities despite an impressive run in the G League.
Bates averaged 19.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game in the G League while shooting 55% from the field and 44% from three-point range before being sidelined. Those efficiency numbers made him one of the league’s most productive young wings and earned him another opportunity to compete for NBA minutes.
Bates entered the NBA after a four-year college career split between Indiana and Missouri. His offensive game took a major step forward after transferring to Missouri, where he became one of the SEC’s most reliable perimeter shooters. During his final two collegiate seasons, Bates averaged 13.5 and 13.3 points per game while shooting 49.5% and 50.8% from the field, 38.5% and 39.7% from three-point range, and an outstanding 92.6% and 94.6% from the free-throw line.
Across 133 career college games, Bates averaged 9.2 points and 2.1 rebounds while posting efficient shooting splits of 45.6% from the field, 37.3% from beyond the arc and 92.4% at the foul line.
The signing aligns with Utah’s continued emphasis on developing young talent after a 22-60 campaign that finished tied for the Western Conference’s worst record. The Jazz have already added another cornerstone piece by selecting Darryn Peterson with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, joining a young core that includes Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Isaiah Collier, Brice Sensabaugh, Cody Williams, Walker Kessler and Kyle Filipowski.
A two-way contract gives Bates the chance to continue developing between the NBA and the G League while remaining available for call-ups throughout the season.
