- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,195,273
- Reaction score
- 59
Standing at 6-foot-6 in shoes while boasting elite two-way ability and an effortless knack for scoring the basketball while sporting an iconic thick wristband on his upper arm — it's easy to see why Darryn Peterson receives Kobe Bryant comparisons.
While those comps are solely based on Peterson's high school, college and summer league tape, they do carry some merit. You can't watch Peterson without reminiscing of Bryant.
And that's a reality Peterson is embracing. Bryant is his idol, after all, and the 19-year-old is chasing the same level of greatness that led to the Los Angeles Lakers raising Nos. 24 and 8 to the rafters.
“What is greatness to me? I think it’s just kind of being one-of-one. There’s not a ton of people, I would say, that achieve greatness,” Peterson said via Sarah Todd of the Deseret News.
“That’s definitely something I want to try to achieve. I’m far away from it now so early in my career in summer league, but it’s something I want to try to achieve by the end of my career.”
Peterson has been unstoppable through two summer league appearances, averaging 26.5 points, 7.0 assists while shooting 53% from the field.
Sure, it's just summer league. The competition isn't anywhere near what Peterson will be facing on a nightly basis once the regular season begins.
But the stats aren't all that is building up the offseason hype — it's also the eye test.
Peterson looks like the best player on the floor whenever he's in. The confidence he visibly plays with is undeniable, and his summer league head coach is taking notice.
“Like most guys who want to be great...they expect to do well. Darryn expects to do well,” assistant coach Steve Wojciechowski said.
“And, how can I be better is the question that he asked himself. That’s a very mature question for a young player to ask, especially (after) his first game in front of Jazz fans, his first game in a Jazz uniform.”
What's also important to keep in mind is ... Peterson is just one piece of Utah's puzzle.
When the real work begins, he'll be able to lean on the likes of Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ace Bailey. Peterson will be surrounded with all the resources he needs to translate his summer success to meaninful competition.
But if we take things one day at a time ... there's plenty of reason to be excited about Peterson's ability to become "one-of-one" in Salt Lake City.
Continue reading...
While those comps are solely based on Peterson's high school, college and summer league tape, they do carry some merit. You can't watch Peterson without reminiscing of Bryant.
And that's a reality Peterson is embracing. Bryant is his idol, after all, and the 19-year-old is chasing the same level of greatness that led to the Los Angeles Lakers raising Nos. 24 and 8 to the rafters.
“What is greatness to me? I think it’s just kind of being one-of-one. There’s not a ton of people, I would say, that achieve greatness,” Peterson said via Sarah Todd of the Deseret News.
“That’s definitely something I want to try to achieve. I’m far away from it now so early in my career in summer league, but it’s something I want to try to achieve by the end of my career.”
Peterson has been unstoppable through two summer league appearances, averaging 26.5 points, 7.0 assists while shooting 53% from the field.
Sure, it's just summer league. The competition isn't anywhere near what Peterson will be facing on a nightly basis once the regular season begins.
But the stats aren't all that is building up the offseason hype — it's also the eye test.
Peterson looks like the best player on the floor whenever he's in. The confidence he visibly plays with is undeniable, and his summer league head coach is taking notice.
“Like most guys who want to be great...they expect to do well. Darryn expects to do well,” assistant coach Steve Wojciechowski said.
“And, how can I be better is the question that he asked himself. That’s a very mature question for a young player to ask, especially (after) his first game in front of Jazz fans, his first game in a Jazz uniform.”
What's also important to keep in mind is ... Peterson is just one piece of Utah's puzzle.
When the real work begins, he'll be able to lean on the likes of Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ace Bailey. Peterson will be surrounded with all the resources he needs to translate his summer success to meaninful competition.
But if we take things one day at a time ... there's plenty of reason to be excited about Peterson's ability to become "one-of-one" in Salt Lake City.
Continue reading...
