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Austin Ainge: "Leadership is different. Sometimes we have a narrow definition, and Keyonte George is a really happy, nice person. He gets along with everybody and he shows up for everybody. He's maybe not a screamer and a yeller type of guy, he's not a taskmaster, he's still very young learning his own way in the league, but he shows up for everybody, he is there for everybody, he is smile and work ethic every day. That's his way of leading and that's awesome."
Guard Keyonte George has agreed to a five-year, $157.5 million contract extension with the Utah Jazz, sources told ESPN. The deal does not include a team or player option, sources said. The terms were finalized Friday after months of negotiations between George's agent Jason Ranne of The Team and Jazz president of basketball operations Austin Ainge. George's new deal will account for approximately 16 percent of Utah's salary cap.
Jake Fischer: One note on Keyonte George's five-year, $157.5 million dollar contract extension with the Jazz: There's $500K each season, a combined $2.5 million, of bonuses in that total, per sources.
Shams Charania Just in: Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George has agreed on a five-year, $157.5 million rookie-scale contract extension with the franchise, sources tell me and @BannedMacMahon.
Lauri Markkanen had some familiar faces in the stands as Finland hosted Iceland in a friendly ahead of the upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifying window. The Utah Jazz forward finished with 17 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals, helping Finland secure a 93-78 victory in Espoo. Markkanen had spent the previous days showing Helsinki to Jazz teammates Jaren Jackson Jr. and Keyonte George, head coach Will Hardy and team owner Ryan Smith, who then attended Friday’s game.
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Peterson silenced any doubts about his zeal for joining the Jazz immediately after being selected. He stressed in several interviews that night that he felt "super comfortable" during his meeting with Hardy and the Utah contingent at the scouting combine in Chicago. Peterson expressed appreciation that Jazz CEO Danny Ainge, president of basketball operations Austin Ainge, general manager Justin Zanik and vice president of player development Avery Bradley traveled to Peterson's hometown to meet with him days before the draft. Over the course of 17 days and two Salt Lake City Summer League games, the Jazz are confident their rebuild is coming to an end. With Peterson's potential and Keyonte George coming off a breakout campaign, Utah's backcourt has the chance to be special, especially alongside 2025 No. 5 pick Ace Bailey and midseason addition Jaren Jackson Jr. "What excites me the most is being able to be a part of the young core," Peterson said. "It's just a great basketball organization. I think everyone would agree with me, and we've kind of talked about it: It's time to win. So, to be a part of that is like a dream come true for me."
George's single-game assignment would have been symbolic of the mentoring relationship he has instantly developed with Peterson. George offers advice to Peterson on some of the finer points of NBA guard play, pleased to help his new long-term backcourt partner take his first steps toward fulfilling his immense potential. "You tell him something, he does it right away," George told ESPN before watching Peterson's 25-point, 12-assist performance during Utah's win over No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer and the Memphis Grizzlies in his second summer league outing. "Obviously, the talent is there, the ability is there, the pace is there. I mean, just from the first game, you see what he can do in the league. He'll be special for sure."
Peterson, who possesses a unique blend of confidence and humility, listens intently to every bit of advice given by George. "Every day, he's been pushing me and telling me what he sees and telling me what I need to be better at in practice and games," Peterson said. "He's going into Year 4 now. So, I don't know if that's a vet or not, but to me, that's a vet. He's been here in the league four years, so he's somebody I would definitely lean on throughout the season."
Utah Jazz rookie Darryn Peterson has been a homebody for the most part since the team selected him second overall in the 2026 NBA draft. Jazz teammate Keyonte George told ESPN's Tim MacMahon he plans on giving Peterson a tour of Salt Lake City at some point. For now, George said the first-year guard is "too busy walking his dog around downtown." MacMahon wrote that "Peterson acknowledges that his sole priorities at this point are hooping and hanging out with his pooch, Denim."
Tim McMahon: "I've been telling you I didn't think that an extension would be forthcoming for Keyonte George. I was informed that, hey, there's a little bit more optimism of that possibly happening than there had been even a week or two ago. There's a chance that there could be a meeting in the middle."
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After reviewing the situation and relying on precedent, the NBA has informed the Utah Jazz that Keyonte George will not be able to coach during their Las Vegas Summer League game against the Washington Wizards on Thursday, league sources told the Deseret News. The Jazz were informed Wednesday that George, the same as any other active player, will not be allowed to take on any kind of official coaching role, in summer league or otherwise, even without compensation. George is not the first active NBA player who has wanted to join the coaching ranks on the sideline, even in a volunteer capacity, according to league sources, and the league wants to keep the rules consistent across the board.
Sarah Todd: Jazz front office and Keyonte's agent finalized an agreement for him to be an assistant coach for a single summer league game (July 9 vs. Wizards). The agreement came together after Keyonte drew up a game-changing play in practice.
Sarah Todd: Likely the first time this has happened with an active player. Had to be cleared with the league office. George can't be compensated, this has to be a volunteer thing and just for a single game. But it's real and it is happening.
During a recent practice, Keyonte George drew up an end-of-game play during a practice, to get the ball to Peterson. The play was successful and there were jokes about getting George on the coaching staff. But the jokes became serious. An agreement was reached for George to be an assistant coach for one Summer League game, the Deseret News learned from George’s agent, Jason Ranne. The agreement came together quickly in the last 24 hours after George’s game-changing play was successful.
