With the number 2 overall pick, the Utah Jazz selected Darryn Peterson, the freshman guard out of Kansas. He joins a young, athletic, and exciting core in Utah headlined by Keyonte George.
With Peterson joining the ranks, hopes will be high that the Jazz will take another jump this coming season. The NBA world weighed in on the Jayhawks star’s selection.
NBA World Reacts To Utah Jazz Selecting Darryn Peterson 2nd Overall
Hopes are high for this pick. NBA reporter Evan Sidery expressed his optimism that the Jazz will improve next year after their draft selection. “Peterson joins a Utah core ready to make a legitimate jump next season and beyond.”
The Jazz drafted Darryn Peterson at No. 2 overall.
Peterson joins a Utah core ready to make a legitimate jump next season and beyond. pic.twitter.com/daXpPcsIY8
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 24, 2026
Meanwhile, basketball analyst Jeff Goodman posted the impressive stats Peterson produced: “The 6-5, 200-pound guard averaged 20.2 points per game and shot 38% from 3 this past season.” Goodman also pointed out in a separate tweet that the Jazz were not going to pass up the opportunity to select someone of Peterson’s skill set.
“There was NO chance that Austin and Danny Ainge were passing on a talent like Darryn Peterson.”
Furthermore, draft analyst Sheldon Wohlman of Utility Sports graded this selection as an A+, the highest possible grade. Peterson’s fit was described as “tremendously fun.”
With the second overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Utah Jazz select Darryn Peterson
Draft Grade: A+
Tremendously fun fit for Will Hardy’s offense. Elite movement shotmaking in a system that prioritizes off-ball movement and the ball working side to side. It’s going to feel… pic.twitter.com/DI9y0NxN4I
— Sheldon Wohlman | Utility Sports (@_utilitysports) June 24, 2026
Wohlman wrote: “Tremendously fun fit for Will Hardy’s offense. Elite movement shotmaking in a system that prioritizes off-ball movement and the ball working side to side. It’s going to feel like a whole new world for DP around legit NBA spacing. Unreal balance and footwork on high degree of difficult shots.”
Skip Bayless also liked the pick, crediting his smooth shooting motion from beyond the arc, despite the injury history attached to Peterson, which Peterson told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne that doctors attributed to his leg cramps due to high doses of creatine. Nevertheless, although Bayless doubted that conclusion, he certainly doesn’t doubt the player.
“I don’t believe Creatine was why Darryn Peterson missed games and halves at Kansas. But when he played, he PLAYED. Such a sweet, easy shot out to the 3, where he made 38%. Can defend. I believe he’ll be a better pro than college player. Great pick. Here comes Utah.”
In another separate tweet, Bayless expressed belief that Peterson will turn out to be a better player than AJ Dybartsa, who went first overall to the Washington Wizards. “Darryn Peterson will be a slightly more impactful NBA player than AJ. DP can SHOOT.”
@PranavSriraman is equally excited by Peterson, whilst also noting there may be a lot of iso ball and not too much ball movement on the court: “Jazz might be worst passing team ever but Darryn is fire.”
Jazz might be worst passing team ever but Darryn is fire
— Pranav Sriraman (@PranavSriraman) June 24, 2026
With Yahoo Sports also grading this selection an A-, the consensus is that the Jazz aced their pick.
