Ranking Jazz's young talents from least to most likely to build around

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.