22-Year-Old Guard Signs an Extension with the 26-27 Utah Jazz
It was reported by Shams Charania that 22-year-old guard Keyonte George has signed a five-year 157.5 million contract extension with the Utah Jazz. The deal does not include a player or team option. This new deal now accounts for 16 percent of Utah’s salary cap. Now, after missing the playoffs for the past four seasons, the Jazz are hoping to make a steady jump within the Western Conference during the 26-27 season.
Although the former Baylor Bears guard played 54 games last season, partially due to a grade two right hamstring sprain, George put up his best season yet as a pro. The 22-year-old is continuing to show why he’s a cornerstone of this Jazz franchise for years to come. Averaging 33 minutes a game, George recorded 24 points, four rebounds, six assists, and a steal while shooting 46 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range. During the Jazz’s 123-120 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves last season, he put up a career-high of 43 points alongside three assists and two steals in 39 minutes of action. In 34 of his 54 games played, George scored more than 20 points, and in 14 of those matchups, the former Baylor Bears guard scored 30 or more points in 14 games.
Along with George, the Jazz selected Darryn Peterson with the second overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The pairing of these young dynamic guards should give Utah a threatening backcourt for the next decade. Utah traded for 2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. before the trade deadline and have stuck with Lauri Markkanen as a perennial piece of the team, someone who’s averaged more than 20 or more points a game in three out of his four seasons in Utah. With these four players starting every night, it should be scary for any team. Last season, the Jazz finished with the worst record at 22-60. The 26-27 season should be completely different for Utah, as other Western Conference teams such as the Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, and Grizzlies should fall short of them. Even if the Jazz don’t make the playoffs, as long as they continue to win more games than a season ago, climb up the Western Conference standings, and showcase the strength of the youth of the team, Utah could be a consistent playoff team if all goes right.
