The Jazz are still stuck in the middle of a rough stretch, but Darryn Peterson gave them something worth holding onto in the loss to Dallas.
Peterson posted 21 points, five assists, three blocks and two steals while going 6-for-12 from the field. For a rookie who had been searching for his footing, it was a clear jump forward and the kind of outing Utah has been waiting to see.
After the game, Peterson told The Salt Lake Tribune’s Shreyas Laddha that the biggest difference was simple comfort.
“Just a little bit more comfortable,” Peterson told Laddha. “Finding some comfort out there.
Getting used to it. … Finding my spots, figuring out which shots I like a lot and which shots I want to get to.
So, keep finding those, and I need to make them at a high level.”
That kind of answer fits the way this season has gone for him so far. Peterson is still a rookie, and the early part of the year has clearly been a process. Even with some of his fellow draftees getting off to stronger starts, this performance offered a much-needed sign that he is settling in.
It would obviously mean more if it came with a win, but the Jazz will take progress wherever they can find it. Peterson’s breakout at least gives them a reason to believe the next step is coming.
He also made sure to credit Will Hardy for the way he’s being pushed.
“I like being coached hard,” Peterson told Laddha. “Coach Hardy told me he was going to push me as soon as I got here. So, I know it’s going to have me better in the long run, and I appreciate him for it.”
Hardy’s handling of Peterson has included some interesting choices, including benching him in overtime periods, but the rookie appears to be taking it in stride. The attitude is there, and so is the response Utah has been hoping to see.
The relationship between Hardy and Peterson still has room to grow, and nothing about this season has looked smooth for the Jazz. But a strong night from Peterson against Dallas is a meaningful step for him and for a team that has been trying to build toward something better.
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