SALT LAKE CITY — Keyonte George signed a multi-year contract extension with the Utah Jazz on Friday that keeps the 22-year-old guard under contract through the 2031-32 season.
The Jazz did not announce terms. Earlier Friday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that George had agreed to a five-year, $157.5 million rookie-scale extension. The new deal begins with the 2027-28 season. This season, George plays out the final year of his rookie contract at $6.6 million.
Utah selected George with the 16th pick in the 2023 NBA draft after one season at Baylor. He was born in Lewisville, Texas, and played at Lewisville High School before finishing at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
The team released a statement from Jazz president of basketball operations Austin Ainge on Friday. Ainge said George chose to stay in Utah.
“Keyonte’s leadership, growth, and commitment to what we’re building make him an integral part of this franchise’s future,” Ainge said. “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.”
“We’re thrilled he’s choosing to remain in Utah as a foundational piece,” Ainge continued, “as we continue chasing our ultimate goal: a championship.”
Keyonte George Coming Off Career Season Cut Short By Hamstring Strain
George averaged 23.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game last season. The points and assists were career highs. He also averaged 1.1 steals.
He shot 45.6% from the field and 37.1% from 3-point range, both career bests, and 89.2% from the free-throw line. In each of his first two seasons, George shot below 40% from the field.
He started all 54 games he played. A right hamstring strain in a March 11 loss to New York kept him out of Utah’s final 16 games. In 2023-24, George was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
Jazz Core Includes Jaren Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen, Darryn Peterson, And Ace Bailey
On Feb. 3, Utah acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. from Memphis in an eight-player trade that sent three future first-round picks to Memphis. Jackson was the 2022-23 Defensive Player of the Year. He is a two-time All-Star.
Jackson played 3 games for the Jazz and averaged 22.3 points. On Feb. 17, he had season-ending surgery to remove a growth from his left knee.
Lauri Markkanen averaged 26.7 points in 42 games last season. Ace Bailey, the fifth overall pick in 2025, averaged 13.8 points in 72 games as a rookie. In June, the Jazz used the second overall pick on Darryn Peterson out of Kansas.
Utah has won 39 games over the past two seasons, going 17-65 in 2024-25 and 22-60 in 2025-26. The Jazz have not finished above .500 since 2021-22, when they went 49-33 and lost to the Dallas Mavericks in six games in the first round. That offseason, Utah traded All-Stars Rudy Gobert to Minnesota and Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland.
In February, the NBA fined the Jazz $500,000 for conduct detrimental to the league after Markkanen and Jackson sat the fourth quarter of close road games at Orlando on Feb. 7 and at Miami on Feb. 9. Utah led Orlando 94-87 after three quarters and lost 120-117. Two nights later, the Jazz led Miami 85-82 entering the fourth and won 115-111.
Will Hardy spoke after a Feb. 12 home loss to Portland. The Jazz coach said he was following the guidance of the team’s medical staff.
“I sat Lauri because he was on a minutes restriction,” Hardy said. “So if our medical team puts a minutes restriction on Lauri, I’ll try to keep Lauri healthy.”
The league announced the fine Feb. 12. Jazz owner Ryan Smith responded on social media.
“Agree to disagree …,” Smith wrote. “Also, we won the game in Miami and got fined? That makes sense …”
The Jazz open the regular season Oct. 21 at Memphis and host New Orleans in their home opener Oct. 23. Utah visits the Mavericks on Nov. 6.
