Jazz Rookie G Keyonte George's 2023-24 Outlook: How he Fits
The Utah Jazz drafted Baylor guard Keyonte George with the No. 16 pick in the 2023 NBA draft. George arrives in Utah equipped with a desirable NBA bag at his disposal and has landed with an organization well suited to his growth as a professional athlete.
The arrival of fresh talent will garner a plethora of opinions and takes, so let's dial it back, and take a realistic look at what to expect with George joining the Jazz roster.
Accomplished
George is the reigning Big 12 Freshman of the Year, and prior to his enrollment at Baylor, he attended IMG Academy. IMG is located in Florida and is considered a world-class 600-plus acre destination designed to improve sports and educational performance. Basically, if one excels at IMG, playing as a professional athlete becomes a legitimate possibility.
At Baylor, George averaged 15.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He is a three-level scorer, meaning he can score close to the basket, from the mid-range perimeter, and from three-point distance. The Jazz are also gifted with his ability to score in one-on-one situations, which will be welcomed under any basketball format.
Crowded Jazz Backcourt
Again, George is a very talented player who can score and operate as a point guard with his distribution abilities. But the Jazz have a crowded backcourt, so playing time must be earned against steep competition.
At point guard, George must battle Talen Horton-Tucker, Kris Dunn, and Collin Sexton for minutes. Sexton aims to score more but is quick as lighting and fierce on both ends of the floor.
Horton-Tucker made his presence felt and was the full-time lead guard for the Jazz to close the 2023 season. And let's not overlook Dunn, who was drafted with the No. 5 overall pick in 2016.
At shooting guard, George will test the waters against Jordan Clarkson (if he doesn't opt-out), Ochai Agbaji, and fellow first-round rookie Brice Sensabaugh (No. 28 overall). Some of Utah's guards can play both positions, which will make for interesting line-ups and additional competition for George.
Patience
The Jazz brain trust and fans must exercise patience and establish realistic expectations for the special talent that is George. Free agency, opt-ins and outs, trades, and other NBA transactions can alter team and player regimens instantaneously.
Jazz head coach Will Hardy has shown the willingness to grant game minutes to players who earn their time. Add the grind of an 82-game season, and attrition may provide additional game minutes for the rookie.
George definitely has a bright future, but with most Rookies, time and patience are needed for proper development.
The Takeaway
The Jazz performed well in the 2023 draft, and George will play a big part in the team's future. His abilities will be more than welcomed with Jazz Nation, and his time as a professional will surface eventually.
Before the season begins, let's allow these young men to calculate the meaning of playing on an NBA roster and evaluate their summer performances. Everyone feels George is gifted, but unrealistic expectations don't help anyone.
With a little luck, I'm sure George will mesh well with the Jazz roster.
Follow Inside The Jazz on Facebook and Twitter.
Subscribe on YouTube for breaking Jazz news videos and live-stream podcasts!
