Is Keyonte George being overlooked by the NBA media as a top prospect?

Why is Keyonte George not being afforded the same grace as Scoot Henderson?

The Utah Jazz drafted Keyonte George 16th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, hoping to repeat history with the selection. After all, the Jazz did pretty well by drafting another tweener guard at No. 13 overall in 2017. That of course was Donovan Mitchell. George is taller than Mitchell but has a smaller frame, but many of their skills are close to one another, and the concerns about each man seem similar.

Mitchell came out of nowhere and should have, rightfully, won the NBA Rookie of the Year award, and the hope is that George has the same emergence. There is hope that will happen, too, as George had a massive Summer League and was so impressive that he made the Summer League First Team.

Now, by no means is it a sign that he’s going to go on to stardom in the NBA, but it does give people hope that he can translate his collegiate game into the pros. Except, despite his relatively high placement, the Jazz’s history of major stars, and of course his play in the Summer League, he’s not getting any love.

Generally, many believe, ourselves included, that rookies shouldn’t get preseason love. What have they done? How do you know they’re going to be transcendent talents? It’s impossible to know. There is no sure thing.

Remember, everyone was calling Ben Simmons the next LeBron James. How’d that work out?

So we’re fine if a rookie doesn’t get much, if any love from the media before they’ve ever played a game. Yet, when they do, it seems odd to base it all off of non-NBA experience; like in the way Hoops Hype gave Scoot Henderson a spot in their Top 24 point guards list.

Henderson came in at No. 18, ahead of Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, and even Josh Giddey. They even mention that he’s not much more than a mid-range scorer, citing his need to work on his three-point shot. Apparently, they didn’t watch him in Summer League, as he did not play well at all.

And this isn’t a knock on Henderson, he very well could be a franchise guy. He could be better than Damian Lillard. He also could be the next great flop. Nothing is guaranteed. So what has Henderson done in his brief career that George hasn’t?

George out-played him in Summer League, and as that’s the only real NBA action that either man has seen, wouldn’t it make sense to include George as well then? Henderson isn’t someone who has done anything in the league, same as George but because of preseason hype and scouts, Henderson is already deemed a Top 24 point guard in the league, when he hasn’t even secured a starting role on the team.

It’s a tad ridiculous to give any rooke, Henderson, George, whomever, so much love before they’ve proven anything of value. But considering that Summer League is the only thing we can compare them on, shouldn’t that matter?

Now, all that being said, George has to earn a starting spot as well in order to warrant any discussion for any list, and right now the Jazz don’t have one person they’re sure of to start at point guard.