3. Keyonte George
The 16th overall pick in 2023 immediately cracked the Jazz’s rotation. There was plenty of hype, but fans only saw flashes of George shining.
The 20-year-old shot under 40 percent from the field and was a subpar 3-point shooter. Things improved with more run in the second half. He averaged 15.8 points, 4.8 assists, and 2.8 rebounds in 31.4 minutes per game as a starter over his final 28 contests. Even during that stretch, George shot 39.7 percent from the field and 33.5 percent on his 3-point attempts.
It felt a lot like early career Jordan Clarkson. George gets buckets, but the efficiency is not where it needs to be. The 20-year-old is likely a rotation player in the NBA for years to come but does not feel like a star. His playmaking may exceed prime Clarkson, but his subpar defense will hold him back.
Keyonte George may take a massive leap in year two and cement himself as a building block. For now, there are questions about his optimal role. If he tops out as a sixth man, the Jazz cannot exactly build a contender around him. Utah hopes to see growth, but a young center just proved it is not always linear.