It's amazing how last season, there was nothing but negative things to say about Keyonte George's lack of progress (and then some). One year later, there's nothing but positive things to say about George's leap, and for good reason. George ascended into a franchise cornerstone, even if it didn't lead to too many more Jazz wins this season than last.
Sadly, though, George recently suffered a hamstring strain, first reported by Tim Bontemps, which will keep him out for a few weeks.
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George has a grade two right hamstring strain, sources told ESPN. He’s expected to be reevaluated in two weeks.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) March 13, 2026
George has had a breakout season in his third year in the NBA for the Jazz, averaging 23.6 points and 6.1 assists in 54 games for Utah.
Hamstring strains are unpredictable, so with not many games left in the season, it's possible George may never suit up for the Jazz again this season. However, it also means that he won't meet the 65-game threshold for the award he has made a good case for: Most Improved Player.
Can confirm this on Keyonte George.
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 13, 2026
That means the @utahjazz guard will miss at least the next 7 games.
Jazz have 16 games left this season, meaning George, who has played in 54 games, can’t hit the 65 games threshold for most improved player. https://t.co/JT195Qfwtb
No, this isn't a criticism of the 65-game award, because it's already been criticized enough, and there's nothing new to bring to the table on that front. More than anything, it's just a shame that despite being a pretty awesome story this season, George yet again won't get the accolade he deserves.
He should have been an All-Star this season, with the only hang-up being that he plays for a tanking team. He should be considered among the best candidates for Most Improved Player - especially when remembering how horribly things went for him last season - but won't simply because he missed a few too many games.
That's not a shot at the other deserving candidates for the award, but George has a pretty bulletproof case for the accolade.
His importance to Utah plays in more ways than one
George's numbers alone prove how important he is to Utah. His biggest problem was his consistency, as he would only occasionally go off his first two seasons, but this season, that hasn't been an issue at all.
It's why his scoring average has been bumped from 16.8 points to 23.6 a game. It's why his efficiency has been bumped from 39.1% from the field to 45.6%. That includes his three-point percentage going from 34.3% to 37.1%. His assist numbers have gone from 5.6 to 6.1, but that isn't much of a bump, but it still proves playmaking isn't a problem from him.
However, it was George's ascension that played a part in Utah's decision to acquire Jaren Jackson Jr. He, Lauri Markkanen, and Walker Kessler form a solid core, but JJJ joining them makes the Jazz a force to be reckoned with. Utah may not have done that with only Markkanen and Kessler as their only proven players, but this version of George changed the equation.
Bad circumstances are why George won't get the recognition he deserves, but if and when the Jazz put themselves on the map, his role in their success should not fall under the radar.