Darryn Peterson, Utah Jazz all smiles on draft night
Jun 24, 2026, 12:39 AM | Updated: 12:40 am
Brooklyn – On a night that could prove pivotal for both the franchise and the player, the Utah Jazz and Darryn Peterson looked like a match made in NBA Draft heaven.
Projected as a potential No. 1 pick since his high school days at Prolific Prep, Peterson slipped past the Washington Wizards and fell to the Jazz after a bizarre freshman season at Kansas.
A series of injuries, illness, and full-body cramps derailed his year, allowing AJ Dybantsa to overtake him as the draft’s top prospect. That shift sent the BYU wing to the nation’s capital and pushed Peterson west of the Rocky Mountains.
View this post on Instagram
In Washington, Dybantsa will be expected to shoulder a significant offensive load almost immediately, pairing with Trae Young as the Wizards try to rise out of years of mediocrity.
In Utah, Peterson will get the chance to develop at a more organic pace on a roster whose talent far exceeds its 22-60 record from last season.
“It’s always a big transition for 19-year-olds,” Jazz President of Basketball Operations Austin Ainge cautioned after the draft.
Darryn Peterson lands with Utah Jazz in NBA Draft
Peterson ranked among the most gifted shooters in college basketball last season, making more than 38 percent of his 6.9 three-point attempts per game. He also showed promise as a defender, posting strong steal and block rates for a freshman guard.
Darryn Peterson talks with insider @benshoops about what he expects to bring to the @utahjazz, his meeting with the staff, and Summer League 👀#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/cMZVuN4vHm
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 24, 2026
He remains unproven in some areas, most notably as a playmaker, but the Jazz can bring him along gradually alongside rising star Keyonte George.
“I think me and Keyonte are going to be one of the best backcourts in the NBA,” Peterson said of his new running mate.
Although fit typically takes a backseat in the draft, where teams prioritize long-term upside over immediate needs, the first-year guard projects as a natural addition to Utah’s roster.
The Jazz were the sixth-worst three-point shooting team in the NBA last season and posted the second-worst defensive rating.
Darryn Peterson talks with insider @benshoops about what he expects to bring to the @utahjazz, his meeting with the staff, and Summer League 👀#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/cMZVuN4vHm
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 24, 2026
Peterson should quickly become one of the roster’s better 3-and-D players once he takes the floor in a purple mountain uniform, while also providing much-needed perimeter ballhandling.
“Darryn is a very complete player for his age,” Ainge added, “so I think he will fit seamlessly in with our group.”
Nearly four years to the day after launching a sweeping roster overhaul, one the Jazz hoped would culminate in acquiring a potential superstar, the franchise’s first-ever championship, the organization may have found the final piece of its rebuild Tuesday night at Barclays Center, and Peterson is fully on board.
“My first goal is to play all 82 [games], make the playoffs, and try to get a ring,” Peterson said.
Are you on Instagram? Let’s connect, give us a follow @kslsports.
Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 2-6pm with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.
