Keyonte George, Utah Jazz
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Keyonte George scored a career-high 43 points in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Keyonte George had his best outing of the season in the Utah Jazz recent win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. George dropped a career-high 43 points in Utah’s 127-122 victory over Minnesota.
He also knocked down a season-high six three-pointers, the second time he’s done that this season. In year three, George has shown tremendous improvement on the court and he is playing with a lot of confidence.
On the season, he’s averaging 24.4 points, 6.7 assists and four rebounds through 43 games. He is second on the team in scoring and is leading the team in assists. George is making a strong case to be considered for the Most Improved Player award.
Utah Jazz Guard Knows How to Score
After George’s impressive performance against a talent Minnesota team, Jazz head coach Will Hardy had a lot of praise for his young guard.
“Keyonte, obviously, had an incredible night scoring with 43 points; made some spectacular plays,” Hardy said. “I told the team, as much of the coaches at times want it to be the other way, this is a players league, and these guys, they all make us look really smart with their ability, their toughness. Keyonte had five or six plays tonight that were just incredible and it’s a testament to him, to his ability, to the work he’s put in, the confidence he has, the confidence his teammates have in him.”
At 22, George is playing like a seasoned veteran in the way he controls the tempo of the game. He knows how to score in multiple ways, whether it’s knocking down a three or getting to the lane. Defenders have had a tough outing matching up with him throughout the season. George made history against Minnesota becoming the youngest Jazz player in team history to record a 40-point game.
Utah has a special player in George and he has the potential to become the face of the organization. The Jazz have a group of talented young players, and with George leading the way, the team is headed in the right direction. George has 11 30-point games this season and had a stretch where he scored 30 plus points in three straight games.
Keyonte George’s Impressive Jump This Season
Last season, George appeared in a total of 67 games and made 35 starts. He averaged 16.8 points and 5.6 assists. This season he’s started in every game he’s played and has proven that he deserves to be in the starting rotation.
The jump that he made from last season to this season cannot go unnoticed. Utah has pulled off some impressive wins this season and George has played a key role in some of those wins. When he’s on the court, the offense flows and is in sync.
He has a feel for the game and understands when he needs to score or find an open teammate or a teammate who may have the hot hand. George has embraced his role and always brings that energy the team needs when he steps on the court. He has the potential to have a successful career in the league.