Darryn Peterson is hoping to prove Stephen A. Smith wrong about his availability concerns. After going second overall to the Utah Jazz in the NBA draft, the former Kentucky Wildcats star is looking at playing all 82 games in his rookie year. During his post-draft press conference on Tuesday night, Peterson said it’s one of his main goals after an injury-riddled college season.
“Coming off the year at Kansas, I didn’t get to play all the games that I wanted to,” he told reporters (via Jayhawks reporter Shreyas Ladha). “My first goal is to play all 82 (games), make the playoffs … try and get a ring.”
On Monday’s episode of First Take, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith suggested he had a difficult time trusting Peterson’s availability. He admitted he’s a fan of Peterson’s game, but questioned whether he would be that consistent.
“I have zero questions about Darryn Peterson’s game,” Smith said. “My question is – can I trust him to be that dude over the course of an 82-game Regular season and a postseason, assuming you get there one day. Can I trust you to be that dude and the face of a franchise?”
Peterson struggled in his only year at Kansas due to his in-game load management. He dealt with cramping issues and injuries, which forced him to miss 11 games. Peterson revealed he had taken high doses of creatine, which led to his health issues during the 2025 season.
While his talent was undeniable, the conversations surrounding his overall potential took a hit. Still, Peterson going top two and the Wizards considering him at No. 1 before picking AJ Dybantsa signalled that NBA teams have done their due diligence and are willing to roll the dice on his upside.
Kendrick Perkins Claims Darryn Peterson Will Have The Best Career Of Any Player In The 2026 NBA Draft
Kendrick Perkins reserved high praise for Darryn Peterson’s prospects in the NBA. After he went second to the Jazz, Perkins said that, at worst, Peterson would have a career like three-time All-Star Bradley Beal, and if he reaches his ceiling, he could reach Kobe Bryant’s level.
“He’s gonna have the best career out of any player in this draft,” Perkins said on Wednesday’s Get Up show. “His floor is Bradley Beal. His ceiling is Kobe Bryant. He’s been a killer his entire life. He’s NBA-ready; he has an NBA body. There’s no shot that he doesn’t like, there’s no shot that he can’t make. When you talk about putting the ball in the basket, he’s the most talented offensive player in this draft class.”
Peterson averaged 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals, shooting 43.8% from the field, including 38.2% from three-point range in his lone college season. With the Jazz already boasting talented players like Keyonte George, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Lauri Markkanen, Darryn Peterson could be the key piece that gets Utah back into playoff contention.
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