Bruce Pearl didn’t hold back Tuesday night when talking about Kansas freshman standout Darryn Peterson - and his comments are echoing across both college and NBA circles.
Appearing on TNT Sports, the former Auburn coach praised Peterson’s top-tier talent, but also raised a few eyebrows with some honest concerns about the young star’s durability. And with Peterson’s name floating near the top of early NBA Draft boards, Pearl’s words carry weight.
“They’re really good with him. They’re really good without him,” Pearl said.
“I don’t think this is going to affect his draft stock. Everybody I’ve talked to in the league still thinks he looks like the number one guy.
But if I was coaching in the NBA, I’d have some concern.”
That concern? Availability.
Peterson has missed 11 of Kansas’ 24 games this season - nearly half the schedule - due to a mix of hamstring and quad injuries, plus a recent illness that kept him sidelined for Monday’s marquee win over No. 1 Arizona. He didn’t appear in pregame warmups and was officially ruled out with flu-like symptoms.
For a player projected as a potential No. 1 overall pick, that much missed time is going to raise questions - not about talent, but about long-term reliability. And Pearl, speaking from a coach’s perspective, didn’t shy away from that.
“My job is to coach a team. My job is to win championships,” Pearl said. “I’d be a little concerned about just how tough he is.”
It’s a candid take - and one that touches on a key issue NBA front offices are constantly evaluating: how much can you count on your top guy to be on the floor?
When Peterson is on the floor, though, there’s no denying his impact. He’s averaging 20.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game - numbers that speak to his ability to take over offensively and create matchup problems at multiple levels. He’s the kind of player who can shift the momentum of a game in a single possession, and Kansas has looked like a different team with him in the lineup.
But that’s the rub - with him in the lineup.
Peterson’s missed time isn’t just a blip. It’s a pattern this season, and with the Jayhawks entering the stretch run and gearing up for a Top 10 showdown against Iowa State on Saturday, his status remains uncertain. That game looms large not just for Kansas’ tournament seeding, but for scouts and executives tracking every move - and every absence - from the freshman phenom.
So far, the consensus around the league still seems to be that Peterson’s upside outweighs the concerns. But as Pearl pointed out, if you’re coaching at the next level, you’re not just dreaming on potential - you’re trying to build a roster that can survive an 82-game grind and still have legs come playoff time.
Peterson has the skill. The question now is whether he can consistently stay on the court to show it.