The Utah Jazz appear headed toward a new deal with Keyonte George, but the price tag may land well below the kind of max contract some might assume is coming.
George is playing out the final years of his four-year rookie contract, which runs through the end of the 2026-27 season. If the Jazz and George do not reach an agreement before the market opens next summer, he would enter restricted free agency.
And for now, the timing of any extension remains wide open. It could happen before the 2026-27 season, after it ends, or even during restricted free agency next offseason.
What seems increasingly clear is that George’s next contract may not reach the top of the market. NBA insider Jake Fischer said George is part of a talented group of young players due for second contracts, but not the kind that are expected to command max money in the current league environment.
"Ausar Thompson, Brandon Miller, Cason Wallace and Keyonte George are [all unlikely] to get a max contract in this second apron era," Fisher said.
Recent extensions around the league have helped frame where George may fit. The Houston Rockets gave Amen Thompson a five-year, $208 million extension, while the San Antonio Spurs locked in Victor Wembanyama on a five-year, $252 million deal. Those numbers are big, but they also reflect the reality of a league where teams are building around apron restrictions and long-term financial flexibility.
George’s case got stronger with his best NBA season in 2025-26. He averaged over 23 points and six assists per game while also taking a leap in efficiency, shooting 46% from the field and 37% from three. That production has pushed him firmly into the Jazz’s future plans in the backcourt, a place he wasn’t necessarily occupying a year ago after back-to-back difficult seasons.
Still, the Jazz may not rush into a massive long-term commitment. In a league where apron penalties shape almost every major decision, the front office could prefer to keep its flexibility intact and wait before making a major investment.
That leaves a few paths on the table. Utah could decide George has done enough to earn a deal sooner rather than later, following the lead of teams like the Rockets and Spurs with their young stars. Or the Jazz could wait for another season of proof before finalizing the kind of commitment that would lock him in for the long haul.
Either way, the expectation is that George’s next deal will not be a max contract. That appears to be the case for several other rising names in his class as well, at least until they prove they belong in the All-NBA tier.
For now, the main questions are how big the number gets and whether the Jazz can get an extension done before the rookie-scale deadline next month. Right now, both outcomes still look possible.
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