‘Why not us?’ Keyonte George thinks Utah Jazz can be playoff team

CHICAGO – Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George and majority owner Ryan Smith agreed on a mindset before Sunday’s NBA draft lottery: “Why not us?”

With George representing the Jazz on stage, the franchise entered the lottery hoping to land the No. 1 pick and put itself in position to select local star AJ Dybantsa of BYU. While the Jazz didn’t win the top spot, they were rewarded with the best possible consolation prize, receiving the second overall selection.

By adding a No. 2 pick to a talented Jazz roster that includes former Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr., George believes the playoffs are in Utah’s reach.

“It was pretty funny, since I was just talking to Ryan,” George told Andscape after the draft lottery at Navy Pier on Sunday. “We had got on the phone. I was just like, ‘Why not us?’ And then he was like, ‘Why not us?’ But yeah, we already have a talented group. The fact that this organization actually gets this opportunity, I’m excited, for sure.

“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be striving to be in the postseason and go far in the postseason. Obviously, the ultimate goal for myself is to win a championship. So, with these pieces that we got, we’re starting our journey to get to that point.”

Dybantsa is the top prospect in the draft, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo. The Jazz have reached out to the Washington Wizards, who have the No. 1 pick, about potentially trading up to land the former BYU standout, a source said.

Even if Dybantsa is selected by Washington, as expected, Utah will still have talented options to choose from in Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Duke center Cameron Boozer and North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson, who round out Woo’s top four prospects.

George talked to Peterson and gave him a hug after the draft lottery. Peterson, who averaged 20.2 points and 1.6 assists per game for the Jayhawks last season, told Andscape he wants to be a point guard in the NBA.

“I just told him [Peterson] to buckle up, that’s all,” George said.

With Peterson and George potentially in the backcourt and a projected frontcourt of Ace Bailey alongside two former NBA All-Stars in Jackson and Lauri Markkanen, George believes the Jazz can be a team to be reckoned with after years of struggle.

The last time the Jazz made the postseason was 2022. This past season, they struggled with injuries and finished 22-60.

“We get a top-two talent in the draft and get to build on the changes we made with getting Jaren,” said George, who is 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds. “It’s just a lot of things going right for the group right now. On paper, we are definitely a playoff team. Honestly, there is just a different versatility that we have. You got guys who can play [point guard] to [shooting guard]. You got guys who play the [power forward] that can move to the [center position].

“And then we got [Jazz head coach] Will Hardy. I know people know about Will. But his X’s and O’s and the way he breaks down the game for us, that’s really what gives me the confidence, honestly. Having Will and our coaches, the talent is going to take care of itself.”

After a breakthrough season in 2025-26 in which he shot a career-high 37.1% from 3-point range and averaged a career-high 23.6 points and 6.1 assists per game, George is eyeing his first NBA All-Star appearance in 2027.

Getting the No. 2 pick, adding Jackson and having real playoff aspirations has also given the rising Jazz star extra motivation this offseason.

“I got kind of hurt towards the end, but I think I got another gear,” George said. “I tell myself all the time to get better towards the end. This summer is an even bigger summer for me because of the changes we made. I have to take my game to a whole other level.”

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