Keyonte George believes Darryn Peterson’s ability to quickly absorb information has already stood out during his early time with the Utah Jazz.
Speaking on NBA Today, George explained why he made a point of approaching Peterson after Utah landed the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The Jazz selected Peterson out of Kansas, pairing him with George as part of their young backcourt.
“I think it was just the guard connection,” George said. “I don’t know. But yeah, just tell him, you know, congratulations to him in advance.”
George said he already had some familiarity with Peterson before the draft and had heard positive things about the rookie’s work ethic and character.
“I’ve already heard about his work ethic, what type of person he is,” George said. “So yeah, it was just a little small talk, put my little gems in there here and there, but I’m just glad he’s on the team now.”
The Jazz guard has also had the opportunity to work directly with Peterson, giving him a closer look at how quickly the 19-year-old is adapting to the NBA environment.
Asked what had impressed him most about Peterson’s game, George pointed specifically to his ability to process information and apply it almost immediately.
“I think just how fast he picks up on things,” George said. “Obviously, in this league, it’s a split second. If you make that mistake, it’s over.”
George said that Peterson has already shown an eagerness to learn across different aspects of the game.
“We talk about different things, whether it’s pick and roll or ISO spacing or even little things with our jump shots,” George said. “He picks up on it right away and he’s always willing to learn.”
That willingness could be particularly important for Peterson as he transitions from Kansas to an NBA team that expects him to play a significant role immediately.
Peterson averaged 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 24 games as a freshman at Kansas, shooting 43.8% from the field, 38.2% from three-point range and 82.6% from the free-throw line.
He had a more difficult shooting performance during the 2026 Summer League, averaging 20.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in three games while shooting 30.8% from the field and 23.1% from three.
The Jazz selected Peterson after a 22-60 season and have made him a central part of their rebuild. Utah also retained George after he signed a five-year contract extension, with the 22-year-old coming off a breakout 2025-26 campaign.
George averaged 23.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 54 games last season while shooting 45.6% from the field and 37.1% from three-point range.
The Jazz are now positioned to enter the season with George and Peterson forming a young backcourt alongside Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. George believes the group has an opportunity to establish a stronger identity after Utah’s recent struggles.
“I think the main thing to expect is just to see a real collective group that loves each other, that kind of fight for each other,” George said. “We go compete every single night.”
