Keyonte George Posts Stellar Season-High Performance vs. Trail Blazers
Through the Utah Jazz’s tumultuous start, one of the few bright spots on the roster has been rookie guard Keyonte George. He’s shown many positive signs as a strong offensive guard to build around, and those qualities only continued on Saturday night.
Without Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, or Kelly Olynyk in the lineup, George stepped up to the occasion, commanding this Jazz squad to a 118-113 overtime win. He put up a season-high 21 points, accompanied by a solid six rebounds and six assists.
Without their top offensive weapons, it gave George the route to find an enhanced role and shot opportunities. While the efficiency could use a bit of a boost (7/17 FG, 1/8 3PT), the flashes of talent are apparent. Saturday was Keyonte’s eighth 20-point outing of the season and already his third against the Trail Blazers.
It was an atypical setting for Keyonte to appear in the lineup without Jordan Clarkson, who he’s played alongside in 17 of their total 20 games. However, even without his scoring presence in the lineup, George proved he was more than capable of leading this team.
Through the first quarter of his season, George has averaged 10.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists on 34.7% shooting from the field. As he continues to progress and become more adjusted to the NBA, those numbers are bound to increase.
The sooner we see his efficiency and two-way ability take strides forward, the better off this unit will be. It all may take some time to fully develop, but with the right steps, the Jazz may have a potential stud on their hands.
George will have his next opportunity to stand out in the Jazz’s next matchup on Wednesday when they travel down south to Texas to take on the Dallas Mavericks.
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