Darryn Peterson, selected second overall in the NBA Draft, wasted no time making his presence known in his Summer League opener, dropping 28 points in 27 minutes as the Utah Jazz edged the Atlanta Hawks 103-102 in overtime on Saturday in Salt Lake City.
The young guard has faced plenty of scrutiny following a challenging college season at Kansas, where he battled recurring cramping issues and other injuries. The Jazz selected Peterson after the Washington Wizards used the top pick on BYU’s AJ Dybantsa.
Peterson shot 11 for 21 from the field, including a 4-of-7 showing from beyond the arc, while adding five rebounds and two blocked shots. However, he did struggle with ball security, committing eight turnovers on the night.
The outing marked Peterson’s first competitive game since Kansas was eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by St. John’s back in March. He averaged 20.2 points per game last season but sat out 11 of the Jayhawks’ 35 contests due to injury.
Peterson reflected on the experience after the game. “It felt great,” he said. “I hadn’t played since my last game in March. Playing another basketball game, this is what I love to do.”
Utah’s Summer League schedule continues Monday when the Jazz face the Memphis Grizzlies, also on the University of Utah campus.
