Keyonte George’s Career-High Scoring Outburst Has Jazz Fans and NBA Analysts Buzzing

Keyonte George has wasted no time turning preseason optimism into early-season production for the Utah Jazz. Through the first three games of his third NBA campaign, the 22-year-old guard is averaging 20.0 points, 9.7 assists and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 47 % from the field—numbers that have fast-tracked him from intriguing prospect to centerpiece of Will Hardy’s offense. Comfort breeds confidence Hardy attributes the leap to George’s decision to remain in Salt Lake City over the summer, using the extra months to sharpen his handle, tighten his pick-and-roll reads and, perhaps most importantly, build chemistry with the training staff. “He’s very comfortable with everybody in our organization,” the coach said, noting that George’s trust has translated to quicker decisions and a louder voice in the huddle. Playmaking surge The most dramatic improvement shows up in George’s assist column. After averaging 5.4 dimes last year, he has nearly doubled that figure by relentlessly attacking downhill and spraying passes to shooters Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler. His 26-point, 10-assist night in the overtime victory against Phoenix marked the first 25-and-10 game of his career and put him in elite company among third-year guards. Efficient scoring blend George isn’t just facilitating; he’s finishing. He ranks top-10 leaguewide in drives per game, converting a career-best 62 % at the rim, and has boosted his pull-up three-point percentage to 38 %. The dual threat forces defenses to pick their poison, opening consistent paint touches that power Utah’s 119.8 offensive rating (5th in the NBA). Defensive strides Utah’s staff challenged George to add strength and film study to his routine, and the early returns are promising. He has sliced his foul rate by 20 % and is holding opposing primary ball-handlers to 41 % shooting, per Second Spectrum tracking. Hardy praised the buy-in: “He’s taken a lot of hard coaching… you saw the burst, you saw the physicality, you saw somebody who was really just going to win.” What’s next The Jazz embark on a four-game road trip starting Friday in Portland, a matchup that pits George against Anfernee Simons in a clash of young backcourts. If the guard sustains anything close to his current output, All-Star buzz will follow by the time ballots drop in January. For now, the locker-room mantra is simple: keep feeding the hot hand. Key phrases to watch • Keyonte George breakout season • Utah Jazz starting point guard • Year-3 leap statistics • Will Hardy quotes on player development With George steering the offense and showing two-way growth, Utah suddenly looks less like a rebuilding project and more like a Western Conference wildcard—one that runs through the emerging star in jersey No. 3.