Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — Every week or so in the offseason, Keyonte George would get an unsolicited text from his head coach.
"Get in shape," Will Hardy's message said.
It didn't matter that Hardy had seen George darn near every day at the Utah Jazz facility running through plays and drills, or just straight-up running, he still sent the little reminder.
George was thrown into the fire as a rookie. He was named the team's starting point guard after just eight games — never mind that he had never played the position. In a February game against Golden State, he played every minute of the second half — and managed to out-duel Stephen Curry.
To George, those moments — and plenty of others — served as a training ground for what was to come in Year 2. Hardy's weekly nudges? They were simple reminders to his young point guard to get prepared.
"My whole thing for the summer was take that jump for the older guys," George said. "I don't want to go through what we went through last year."
George has established himself as a key part of the Utah Jazz's future. He can score in bunches (he set the all-time NBA record for 3-pointers made in a game by a rookie with nine) and his playmaking abilities stood out when he was asked to lead a lineup of veterans.
But is George's role on a winning team? Is he a franchise point guard? A solid rotation piece? A bench scorer?
His second year might help clear that up.
Recently, during a preseason game, George's tongue hung out as he looked at the crowd in celebration. He had just fooled Domantas Sabonis with a hesitation dribble and then a pass fake before laying it in over the Sacramento Kings big man.
The game had slowed down for the young guard. He changed pace to throw off the defense, and then he manipulated Sabonis by acting as if he was going to hit Walker Kessler rolling to the rim.
Everything he had been focused on over the summer came together in one highlight play.
KEY GOT SABONIS WITH THE FAKE 😵💫😵💫 pic.twitter.com/kXpxKYhYXN
— Jazz Lead (@JazzLead) October 16, 2024
"He's just learning fast; you see his pace is different," Jordan Clarkson said. "He's finding those opportunities to take shots, to be aggressive, and to make plays for his teammates. The biggest thing for him, too, is getting us into the offense. I think it's processing fast for him."
There's a different air of confidence around George, who will turn 21 in November, as he heads into his second year.
Last season was full of a lot of first-time moments; those came with the usual nerves.
There were times last season where he'd catch himself scrolling through social media. He'd see all the good and bad about a game or a play, and every small moment was suddenly magnified. In some cases, it served as fuel during a long season; in others, it fostered an unobtainable goal of perfection.
"This year, I'm just going out and playing ball," he said. "I'm not worried about what's said or what people think; I'm just going out there and hooping — bad game or not. So I think I'm just going out there with a clear head."
That's been an earned self-assurance. He went through an entire NBA season going toe-to-toe with players he looked up to when growing up. Every step of the way, he proved he belonged.
"He's carrying a different level of confidence. I think there's confidence in his game, there's confidence in the credibility that he's built up with his teammates in the organization, there's confidence in the relationship with me and the staff," Hardy said. "You can just tell the way that we communicate with each other feels different than it did last year."
He's stronger and has a better base for his jump shot, which the Jazz hope will increase his efficiency; and he's gained a greater understanding of the game. George spent the offseason dissecting film — both his own and other guards around the league — to figure out how to attack defenses.
That, he said, has helped him read the game at a higher level. He knows what a defense will try to do, so he has a better idea of how to manipulate it.
"Maybe we put Lauri (Markkanen) in the right corner if I'm going left, now I'm able to see that read way easier," George said. "Or maybe it's putting Lauri strong side and now I can get to my right hand and I'm making a read on the backside, or maybe get to my floater."
That mindset is partially why the Jazz are bullish about his future as a lead guard in the NBA. He's a natural scorer, yes, but he's accepted a larger responsibility on the team. His rookie year was the training ground; now, he feels ready to take a leap.
"We'll be in great shape if I can take that jump," he said. "It will put us in positions to win."
