Jazz's Keyonte George Touted a RoTY Sleeper by NBA Insider

Utah Jazz Rookie Keyonte George turned some heads after a strong Summer League.

Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. According to NBA insider Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama is not a shoo-in to win NBA Rookie of the Year, and mentioned Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George as a plausible candidate to take home the Wilt Chamberlain trophy.

O’Connor shared his opinion on The Mismatch Podcast with co-host Chris Vernon.

“Is there anybody else that could be a sleeper? Keyonte George, maybe, from Utah,” O’Connor said. “Yeah, Keyonte—he lost 10 or 15 pounds. He looks lean. He looks fast. He looks super explosive right now.”

New Mismatch with @ChrisVernonShow out now on summer league: https://t.co/7KQ4ihjP1X

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) July 10, 2023

One would have to agree with O’Connor after witnessing what the No. 16 overall pick was able to display in this year's Summer League. George averaged 28.3 points while dishing out 8.1 assists per 40 minutes, but it wasn’t just an impressive stat line that stood out. 

George didn’t need any help from his teammates to produce his own offense. Having a player create his three-point shots off the bounce efficiently is something Utah lacked in 2022-23. He showcased this skill set at Baylor, and it appears he has no problems translating it to the NBA. 

However, a path to being the Rookie of the Year hinges on how much volume George will see come his way in 2023-24. That outlook moving forward is murky at best. 

George could be on the outside looking in on being a top offensive option, with Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, and Jordan Clarkson having a track record of getting their fair share of shots. Also, with the log jam going on at the shooting guard and point guard positions, it could take some time before he’s a permanent fixture in the rotation. 

That said, if Utah goes out on a limb and anoints George as the opening-night starter, it’s plausible he’ll be in the Rookie of the Year conversation out of the gates.

O’Connor touched on these facts later in the podcast.

“Keyonte George—he’s showing all the skills that make him a very appealing player, and I wonder if he could be a sleeper pick for a Rookie of the Year,” O’Connor said. “I don’t have the odds in front of me, but I know they’re not high, for sure. They’re definitely not higher than a Scoot [Henderson]— they’re definitely not higher than a Thompson Twin. I wonder if he can be that guy that ends up running that offense, gets a ton of opportunities, and puts up good numbers.”

Could the Jazz brain trust hand the keys over to George early in the season? It’s within the realm of possibility, but don’t expect him to be the starter day one.

In 2017 Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell became the starting shooting guard in the twelfth game of the season. George would have to show that he’s a clear choice early and often, similar to what Mitchell was able to do when he replaced Rodney Hood. 

It will be an interesting storyline to see unfold as the new season begins. Jazz fans will start to get a clearer picture of how it shakes out when the pre-season games begin on October 5.

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