The Utah Jazz have agreed a five-year, $157.5 million rookie-scale contract extension with guard Keyonte George, the team announced on Friday, September 18. The deal was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania before being made official by the franchise later the same day.
George, 22, was the No. 16 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. He is coming off a breakout 2025-26 season in which he posted career highs across the board, averaging 23.6 points, 6.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 45.6 per cent from the field and 37.1 per cent from three-point range.
The extension runs through the 2031-32 season and, per ESPN, carries an average annual salary of $31.5 million with no team or player option. It takes effect from the 2027-28 season, when George’s rookie deal expires.
Jazz president of basketball operations Austin Ainge said: “Keyonte’s leadership, growth, and commitment to what we’re building make him an integral part of this franchise’s future. His work ethic, ability to connect with teammates in the locker room and on the floor, and his love for this team and our fans have been incredible to watch.”
The Jazz have won a combined 39 games across the past two seasons and last posted a winning record in 2021-22, when they went 49-33. George’s deal follows a run of rookie-scale extensions around the league this week, including Ausar Thompson’s five-year, $155 million agreement with Detroit and Pelle Larsson’s four-year deal with Miami.
