Despite what you might have heard or what narratives were spun in the days leading up to this week’s NBA draft, Darryn Peterson had a feeling that the best place for him was with the Utah Jazz.
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“After the lottery, I looked into the top teams, and I thought, off the rip, that I’d have the best fit with Utah,” Peterson said at his introductory press conference in Salt Lake City on Saturday.
“So for them to take me with the second pick, like I said before, I was super happy to hear that, and I think I’m gonna fit in well and it’s gonna go great.”
Peterson arrived in Utah on Friday afternoon, in the midst of a whirlwind week wherein his dreams have been realized and he’s now embarking on the next phase of his life.
He’s gone through a rollercoaster of emotions from being grateful, reflecting on what got him to this point, feeling like he’s moving on, nervous and excited about the next steps and everything in between.
It all started with the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday night.
“The first feeling was like, ‘Wow, I’m super blessed to be in this position,’” Peterson said. “The second feeling was when I went home, I worked out at my old high school, just to see where I came from. That was another feeling.”
But then, when Peterson touched down in Salt Lake City and saw an airplane hangar full of fans chanting his name, he felt a sense of peace.
“When I got here, (it was) like a wholesome feeling,” Peterson said. “When I got off the plane, the fans were out there yelling for me, cheering for me. It was just like a warm welcome to home. I’m happy to be home now.”
No time has been wasted. Peterson had dinner on Friday night with new teammate Keyonte George, and the two of them are already discussing and envisioning what they could do as a backcourt tandem.
Peterson’s whole family, including his Dobermann named Denim, have been decked out with Jazz gear and Peterson No. 22 jerseys.
And just prior to Peterson’s press conference on Saturday he was talking with head coach Will Hardy about what to expect and how the Jazz offense functions.
“Me and coach were just in the back talking about it,” Peterson said. “I asked him, ‘When can I watch film and start to break down stuff?’
I’ve heard tons of great things, so I can’t wait to learn from him, learn from Keyonte, another guard that’s been in his offense, so I’m looking forward to picking his brain.”
One of the things George told Peterson when asked what to expect with summer league and training camp is that whatever level of difficulty Peterson is imagining, multiply it tenfold.
Even so, Peterson remains eager to get the ball rolling, and he won’t have to wait long. The Jazz will start practicing for Salt Lake City Summer League in the coming days before Peterson makes his summer debut at the Huntsman Center on July 4, with games also scheduled for July 6 and 7.
Then it’s off to Las Vegas Summer League, where the Jazz will play the Washington Wizards in the opening game on July 9, pitting Peterson, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, against AJ Dybantsa, who was selected No. 1 out of BYU.
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