Darryn Peterson: "I'll Have the No. 2 Pick on My Mind My Entire Career"

Brooklyn. Darryn Peterson made no secret of wanting to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. But after being selected second overall by the Utah Jazz, the former Kansas player made clear he won't look back. His message was direct: he arrives in Salt Lake City ready to work, with immediate ambition and extra motivation.

Question: You wanted to be No. 1 throughout the process. You ultimately were picked No. 2. What do you have to prove now?

Darryn Peterson: I can't go back or change anything now. Obviously I wanted to be No. 1, but I came out as No. 2. Now I'm ready to go to Utah and get to work.

I've always had a chip on my shoulder, so I wouldn't say this adds anything more. But yes, I'm going to have it on my mind throughout my entire career.

Question: Over the past year there's been a lot of talk about you and people have tried to pigeonhole you. Who are you really and what do you want to prove in the NBA?

Darryn Peterson: When people ask me who I am, I say I'm me, Darryn Peterson. People are always going to have opinions about me because of everything I've been through.

I think I'm a good guy. An older brother to my siblings, a son to my parents, a good friend, someone people can count on.

Now I'm an NBA player, so a new chapter starts in my life and my lifestyle. But basketball has always been the main thing for me. I keep it as a priority. I've worked incredibly hard my whole life and I'm going to keep doing it.

This is part of my dream, but I still have so many more things to pursue.

Question: You're ambitious and you have the game to back it up. Do you have specific goals for your first season?

Darryn Peterson: Goals? Play all 82 games. After the year I had at Kansas, I couldn't play all the games I wanted. My first goal is to play all 82.

After that, make the playoffs. Try to win a ring. I saw some rookies go far in the playoffs and that inspired me. They came up short, but I want to go all the way and win.

Question: The top eight picks in the Draft were all freshmen. What's your relationship with them and what potential does this generation have?

Darryn Peterson: I know these guys well. We've grown up together. We overlapped on campus, played together since we were 15 or 16. We've chased this dream at the same time, so it's something special.

We don't all know each other in a super personal way, but we've spent a lot of time together. We know each other well and we're going to keep competing.

I'm coming for them like I've come for them my whole career. And now I'm entering a league with better players, so I'm coming for them too. I'm going to work incredibly hard.

Question: You wore No. 22 at Kansas and in high school, but at Utah Kyle Filipowski already has it.

Darryn Peterson: Who has it at Utah?

Question: Kyle Filipowski.

Darryn Peterson: I'll have to see what he's willing to do to give it up. If not, can you wear No. 8 in the NBA? Sometimes there are numbers you can't use. Maybe I'll try to wear 8, or see if he's willing to give up 22. Probably 8, for the Kobe vibes. I just got a Kobe tattoo on my shoulder, you'll see it soon. Yeah, maybe 8.

Question: Utah is building around a young core, with Ace Bailey as one of the main pieces. What do you expect from that future with the Jazz?

Darryn Peterson: Like you said, it's a young core and I'm excited to be part of it. We have a lot of good players and I feel blessed to arrive in a situation where we can win right now.

I hope we can become one of those teams that goes far in the playoffs and competes for a championship.

Question: How were your conversations with Utah? You met with them, but you didn't do a specific workout.

Darryn Peterson: They were very good. I remember meeting with them in Chicago and telling my agent: "I want to be No. 1, but I've had a great connection with Utah. If they call, I won't be upset."

I think that by not working out with them, it created the wrong idea that I didn't want to play there.

But I am who I am: my main goal was to be No. 1. My team and I decided that was the best place to work out. I'm very happy that Utah picked me and I can't wait to get there and work. I think it's a great fit.

Question: You seem very calm, very composed, like you're already ready to step on the court. What's driving you right now?

Darryn Peterson: The celebration ends tonight. Today I was drafted, but tomorrow I'm already an NBA player. I'm going to go home and train until I have to report to Utah.

Like I said, basketball is first. I'm a worker. Kobe is my role model and he inspires me. I try to think: "What would Kobe do right now?" Get drafted, turn the page and try to be the best possible. That's what I'm going to do.

And right now I'm looking at the screen at the guy who went No. 1, AJ Dybantsa. So I'm even more motivated.

Question: What do you want to show NBA fans in the upcoming Summer League?

Darryn Peterson: That I'm back to being myself. At Kansas I wasn't completely myself.

During this pre-draft process I've worked so hard and I feel better than ever. I'd say that: I'm back to being myself.

Question: Isaiah Collier also wears No. 8.

Darryn Peterson: Then I'm out of luck. I'll have to go back to the drawing board and think of something. Hopefully I can get 22. I'll probably text Flip right now to ask: "What do I need to do?"

Question: Maybe you'll have to work for your second number too.

Darryn Peterson: Maybe I'll have to do a whole shift. We'll see.

Question: What was the hardest part of the pre-draft process?

Darryn Peterson: The workouts. They pushed me to the limit. After the year I had at Kansas, I had to push myself to another level. The workouts were very intense and I had a very strict schedule.

Plus, during the process I adopted a puppy. I had a lot on my plate: training, raising him, spending time with him…

Yeah, probably the workouts were the hardest part, no doubt. But I accepted it. I love basketball, so I'll do whatever it takes to be my best version.

Question: You're the highest Kansas player selected since Andrew Wiggins. What does that mean to you?

Darryn Peterson: It means a lot. It's part of hard work paying off. I had a great year at Kansas and I'd do it a million times over.

Rock Chalk. I appreciate everyone there so much. I hope they keep being my fans and that now they're also Utah fans.