Jazz bank on No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson to end playoff drought

Last postseason trip came in 2022

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

“Jumping from fourth to second in the Draft Lottery allowed Utah to grab Kansas guard Darryn Peterson in the Draft, addi Via @NBA on X

What happened: Utah moved from fourth to second in the Draft Lottery to select Kansas guard Darryn Peterson at No. 2. Peterson joins a young core building toward the 2026-27 season after Utah's last playoff appearance in 2022.

Why it matters: The No. 2 pick opened preseason in Utah's starting backcourt. He scored a game-high 23 points in an Oct. 7 loss to Denver and added 14 in an Oct. 12 third-quarter run, giving the rebuild an early scoring anchor.

By the numbers: No. 2 overall selection after a two-spot lottery jump from fourth. Last playoff appearance: 2022. Preseason scoring: 23 points on Oct. 7, 14 points on Oct. 12.

What to watch: Utah closes its preseason slate before finalizing rotation roles for opening week. Peterson's backcourt fit remains the central evaluation point.

Sources

@NBA 2026-10-14T18:47:26.381648+00:00

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