The Utah Jazz fell one spot short of the No. 1 pick in Sunday’s NBA draft lottery, landing the No. 2 selection in Chicago as they chased the chance to take AJ Dybantsa of BYU. For Keyonte George, who represented the team at Navy Pier, the result did not change his view of where Utah is headed. “On paper, we are definitely a playoff team,” George said.
George and majority owner Ryan Smith had already settled on a phrase before the lottery: “Why not us?” It was meant as both a reminder and a challenge, and George repeated that logic after the draw, saying there was “no reason why we shouldn’t be striving to be in the postseason and go far in the postseason.” Utah has not played in the postseason since 2022 and finished 22-60 this past season, a record shaped in part by injuries and uneven availability.
The Jazz were not waiting passively for the balls to bounce their way. They reached out to the Washington Wizards about a possible trade up to No. 1, underscoring how seriously they viewed the chance to land the draft’s top prize. ’s Jeremy Woo ranked Dybantsa as the top prospect, with Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson filling out the rest of his top four. That is still a strong pool if Utah stays at No. 2, and it gives the franchise real options even after missing the first pick.
George’s confidence also comes from what he sees around him. He said the Jazz have “a talented group” and pointed to a roster he believes offers “a different versatility,” with players who can move between point guard, shooting guard, power forward and center. He also credited coach Will Hardy, saying Hardy’s X’s and O’s and game breakdowns give him belief in what Utah can become. “So, with these pieces that we got, we’re starting our journey to get to that point,” George said.
That optimism is coming from a guard who just posted a breakthrough season. George shot 37.1% from 3-point range in 2025-26 and averaged 23.6 points and 6.1 assists per game, both career highs. He said the Jazz are “starting our journey” toward a level where the postseason is the expectation, not the hope, and that the goal beyond that is a championship. He is also eyeing his first NBA All-Star appearance in 2027.
There is still tension in the picture. Utah added Jaren Jackson Jr. to a roster that already has talent, but the Jazz have spent the last several seasons proving that potential and results are not the same thing. George said he told Peterson to “buckle up,” a small line that captured the mood better than any polished team statement: Utah believes the draft, the roster and its coach can push it forward, but it still has to turn that belief into wins.
