Keyonte George's Development and Possible Concerns for the Utah Jazz

• Why the Utah Jazz Should Be Concerned with Keyonte George’s Performance Over His First Two Seasons

Keyonte George, the Utah Jazz’s 16th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, arrived in Salt Lake City with high expectations. A former five-star recruit out of high school and a standout at Baylor, George was seen as a potential cornerstone for a Jazz team in the midst of a rebuild. Now, as he navigates his second season in the league, there are growing reasons for the Jazz to be concerned about his development and long-term fit with the franchise. While George has shown flashes of brilliance, his inconsistency, inefficient scoring, and uncertain role within the team’s system raise red flags that the Jazz cannot afford to ignore.

• Promising Start, Inconsistent Growth

George’s rookie season offered a glimpse of his potential. Over his first 41 games in 2023-24, he averaged 10.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists, shooting 36.4% from the field and 32.4% from three. Those numbers ticked upward in his final 11 games of the season, where he posted 15.2 points on 45.9% field goal shooting and 40.0% from beyond the arc. This late-season surge suggested that George was beginning to find his footing as a dynamic scoring guard capable of running an offense.

However, his second season has not built on that momentum as decisively as the Jazz might have hoped. Through 51 games in the 2024-25 campaign (as of early March 2025), George is averaging 16.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 5.9 assists. On the surface, these stats reflect improvement, but his efficiency tells a different story. Shooting just 39.7% from the field, George’s scoring comes at a high cost, often requiring significant volume to make an impact. For a team looking to establish a reliable offensive identity, this inefficiency is a concern, especially when paired with his relatively low rebounding numbers for a guard who often plays heavy minutes.

• Role Confusion and Offensive Fit

One of the most pressing issues with George’s performance is the lack of clarity surrounding his role. The Jazz have oscillated between using him as a primary ball-handler and deploying him off the ball as a slasher or spot-up shooter. This experimentation reflects a broader uncertainty about how to maximize his skill set. George thrived in high school and college as a lead guard who could create his own shot and facilitate for teammates, but Utah’s system under head coach Will Hardy has at times pushed him into a more complementary role alongside players like Isaiah Collier or Collin Sexton (when healthy).

This misalignment has hindered his development. When George is relegated to standing on the wing or slashing off-ball, he struggles to leverage his playmaking instincts and shot-creation ability—skills that made him a lottery pick in the first place. His 39.7% field goal percentage this season underscores the inefficiency that emerges when he’s forced into a role that doesn’t fully suit him. For a rebuilding team like the Jazz, defining George’s role and tailoring the offense to his strengths should be a priority, yet two seasons in, that vision remains murky.

• Defensive Limitations

While George’s offensive struggles are the most visible concern, his defensive play adds another layer of worry. At 6’4” with a solid frame, George has the physical tools to be at least an average defender, but he has yet to show consistent effort or impact on that end of the floor. The Jazz rank among the league’s worst defensive teams, and George’s lack of steals (averaging just 0.7 per game in his late rookie stretch) or significant disruption suggests he isn’t helping to shore up that weakness. For a guard expected to shoulder a significant load, improving defensively is non-negotiable, yet there’s little evidence of progress in his first two years.

• Bright Spots Amid the Concerns

To be fair, George has had his moments. His 30-point outburst off the bench against the Houston Rockets on February 22, 2025, showcased his scoring potential, as he outscored the entire Rockets bench single-handedly. Performances like these, along with his selection to the Rising Stars tournament during All-Star Weekend, highlight why the Jazz remain invested in him. His ability to heat up from three (he shot 46.5% from deep on 9.1 attempts per game over an eight-game stretch in his rookie year) and his knack for clutch plays—like a game-winning three in the Rising Stars event—offer hope that he can still develop into a star.

Yet these highlights are too sporadic to outweigh the broader concerns. For every 30-point game, there are nights like his 6-of-22 performance against the Portland Trail Blazers on February 24, 2025, where inefficiency and poor decision-making cost the Jazz a winnable game. Consistency remains elusive, and at 21 years old, George is still young enough to grow—but the clock is ticking for a Jazz team that needs its young core to take tangible steps forward.

• The Stakes for the Jazz

The Utah Jazz are in a delicate phase of their rebuild. With veterans like Lauri Markkanen still on the roster and a stockpile of draft picks at their disposal, the franchise is balancing short-term development with long-term aspirations. George, as a high-upside guard, was supposed to be a key piece of that puzzle. If he fails to evolve into a reliable, efficient contributor, the Jazz risk stunting their timeline or being forced to pivot to other prospects like Isaiah Collier or future draft selections.

The organization’s patience will be tested. George’s flashes of brilliance suggest he could still become a foundational player, but two seasons of inconsistent production, inefficient scoring, and an unclear role should give the Jazz pause. Without a clear plan to unlock his potential—whether through coaching adjustments, roster changes, or a sharper focus on his strengths—Utah risks squandering a valuable asset at a time when they can ill afford to misstep.

• Conclusion

Keyonte George’s first two seasons with the Utah Jazz have been a mixed bag of promise and frustration. While his scoring ability and occasional heroics keep optimism alive, his inefficiency, defensive shortcomings, and uncertain fit within the team’s system are legitimate causes for concern. The Jazz must act decisively to define his role and foster his growth, or they risk seeing their once-promising guard stagnate in a rebuild that demands progress. For now, George remains a tantalizing “what if”—but the Jazz should be worried that the answer to that question might not be what they hoped.