Darryn Peterson heard his name called by the Utah Jazz with the second overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Smiling for the cameras, Peterson immediately shifted his focus toward his rookie season and addressed his work ethic and the inspiration he drew from NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
Darryn Peterson Uses Draft Position as Fuel With Kobe Bryant Inspiration
The debate between AJ Dybantsa and Peterson dominated draft conversations in recent months, as both players were considered the elite prospects of the 2026 class.
After the Washington Wizards made BYU standout Dybantsa the first overall selection, Utah grabbed the opportunity to recruit Peterson within its ranks. Peterson entered his lone collegiate season as the preseason favorite for the top spot on most draft boards.
A frustrating string of hamstring and ankle issues, along with persistent cramping, limited him to 24 games.
However, Peterson perceived the No. 1 pick snub as a reason to work harder and also revealed the inspiration behind his grit.
“The celebration stops tonight. I got drafted today, but tomorrow, I’m now an NBA player. I’m going to get home and work out until I’ve got to report to Utah,” Peterson said.
“Kobe is my guy, and I’m inspired by him. So I just try to think, what would Kobe do right now? He’d get drafted and move on and try to go be the best possible, so that’s what I’m going to go do.”
Darryn Peterson: “The celebration stops tonight. I got drafted today, but tomorrow, I’m now an NBA player. I’m going to get home and work out until I’ve got to report to Utah… Kobe is my guy, and I’m inspired by him. So I just try to think, what would Kobe do right now? He’d…
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 24, 2026
“I see a guy that went No. 1 on the screen there right now (AJ Dybantsa), so I’m extra motivated… It will always be in my mind for my whole career.”
He also mentioned that he recently got a Kobe tattoo on his shoulder and that if he can’t wear No. 22 (taken by Kyle Filipowski), he’d want to wear No. 8, should Isaiah Collier be open to giving it up.
Peterson still dominated whenever he saw the floor. He broke the Kansas freshman scoring record previously held by Andrew Wiggins, averaging 20.2 points, and added 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 steals in 29 minutes per contest.
He showcased a versatile offensive package and elite shot-making ability, shooting 43.8% from the floor, 38.2% from beyond the arc, and 82.6% from the free-throw line.
Whether he wears 22, 8, or something else entirely, Peterson arrives in Utah with immense expectations, as the Jazz desperately need a reliable primary option capable of taking over late in close games.
Peterson has the tools to handle that massive burden; whether that Mamba mentality translates to the NBA is a different conversation altogether.
