Kansas’ Peterson lands with Jazz at No. 2 pick in NBA draftTim MacMahonJun 23, 2026, 08:17 PM ETClose
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The Utah Jazz selected Kansas guard Darryn Peterson with the No. 2 pick in the draft, adding a dynamic scorer to their young core as the franchise intends to make a leap to competitiveness after a lengthy rebuilding process.
It’s the second consecutive year the Jazz used their lottery pick on a player who declined to visit Utah during the pre-draft process. The Jazz are encouraged by the progress of Ace Bailey, the teenager who was a second-team All-Rookie selection after they drafted with the No. 5 pick last year.
“We’re so excited about Darryn,” Jazz president of basketball operations Austin Ainge mentioned on Jazz+, the team’s streaming service. “He is such a great combination of talent and character and work ethic. He fits everything the Jazz are about, and we’re so excited to add him to our group. We think he can help us win now and in the future.”
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Peterson, 19, averaged 20.2 points per game for the Jayhawks last season, the most ever by a freshman in Kansas history. However, his lone college season was tainted by mysterious medical issues that caused Peterson to miss 11 games and make early exits in several others.
Peterson told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne in May that he dealt with severe cramping issues that doctors determined after the season were caused by using high doses of creatine. Utah team sources told ESPN that their research into Peterson’s medical issues did not result in any red flags.
The Jazz are optimistic that Peterson will fit well alongside Keyonte George in the Utah backcourt for years to come. George, 22, had a breakout campaign in his third year last season, averaging 23.6 points and 6.1 assists per game.
After finishing in the lottery the past four years, the Jazz are optimistic that they will be competitive next season, following the for two-time All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. in February and the selection of Peterson.
“We think we can really turn the corner and hit the gas this offseason,” Ainge mentioned.
This matches the highest draft pick in franchise history. The Jazz also had the No. 2 pick in the 1980 draft, when they selected Louisville guard Darrell Griffith, who won Rookie of the Year and spent his entire 10-year NBA career in Utah.
