Darryn Peterson didn’t waste much time making his feelings known after his first game in the Las Vegas NBA Summer League.
The former Kansas star, now with the Utah Jazz, said he feels like himself again with the ball in his hands - and made it clear that his time in Lawrence didn’t always feel that way.
“I’m back having fun. I wasn't really experiencing it that much at Kansas," Peterson said.
"I was off [the ball] a ton, so just, I feel like myself again. Being on the ball, that's what comes with it - being double-teamed and different coverages, so keep adjusting."
The comment landed like a shot across the bow at Bill Self and the way Kansas used him.
Peterson arrived in Lawrence as a five-star recruit expected to be the kind of talent that could lift the Jayhawks to a title run. Instead, the season often felt messier than that, with Peterson at times pulling Kansas closer to chaos than contention. Self tried to fit him into a role that worked for the group, but Peterson clearly wanted more control of the offense.
At Kansas, he spent more time on the wing as a shooting guard than as the lead guard. Even so, he was still the player teammates leaned on when it was time to score. His on-ball ability was obvious, but Self didn’t always need him to run everything.
That decision wasn’t random. Kansas had to manage Peterson’s cramping issues and a few injuries, and there were nights when it wasn’t even clear whether he’d be able to finish the game. In that context, keeping him off the ball made sense for the team, even if it didn’t match what Peterson wanted.
He was still the best player on the floor when he was available, but Kansas was never built around his personal comfort. It was built around what the coaching staff thought gave the Jayhawks the best chance to function.
Now Peterson’s complaint belongs to Utah. And after his comments in Las Vegas, it’s hard not to see the Jazz as the team that gets to deal with his need to be on the ball, while Kansas and Self are left to absorb the sting of his parting words.
In Other News...
Lance Leipold Just Addressed Kansas Fans' Biggest Wembley Fear
As Lance Leipold heads into his sixth season at Kansas, one of the biggest talking points around the Jayhawks is not a Big 12 opponent or a depth-chart battle, but a trip overseas. Kansas is set to meet Arizona State at Wembley Stadium as part of the Union Jack Classic, giving the program a rare international showcase before the season settles into its usual grind.
Leipold acknowledged the challenge of the travel, but he also pointed to a built-in cushion that should matter to Kansas fans worried about the aftermath. The game comes in Week 3, and the Jayhawks get a bye week afterward before turning to a demanding nine-game finish, so the staff has time to manage the transition back and reset for the Oct. 3 matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Lance Leipold Thinks Kansas Finally Has An Answer In Close Games
At Big 12 Media Days, Lance Leipold sounded encouraged by what Kansas has built heading into the season, pointing to a roster that looks sturdier across the board. The Jayhawks believe they have more reliable depth in the trenches and at several key spots on defense and in the backfield, and that matters for a program trying to turn more of its competitive Saturdays into wins.
Leipold also tied that stability to the changing college football landscape, saying the new revenue-sharing model has helped Kansas allocate resources more effectively. He added that the single transfer portal window has made it easier to keep the roster together, and for a team that has been searching for a better way to finish tight games, that kind of continuity could be as important as any single player on the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]