Bill Simmons was already convinced Darryn Peterson had a rare guard profile before the 2026 NBA Draft debate tightened.
The Kansas freshman still has a real No. 1 case.
That case starts with a scoring package few guards bring into the league.
Darryn Peterson’s praise from Bill Simmons highlights upside
In a February 2026 clip from The Bill Simmons Show, Simmons framed Peterson as the type of guard evaluators rarely get to study.
“We just don’t see guards like this who are this good and can get to 25 points without breaking a sweat. This guy is like Rose-Westbrook in terms of going to the paint, bouncing off people, combined with the shooting. And the shooting. Worst-case scenario, this guy is going to be the best fourth guy on a team, a guy you can’t leave open. He can defend. But the ceiling of this is much higher.”
The Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook comparison is enormous because both became MVP-level forces through burst, pressure, and paint pressure. Their greatest limitation was shot-making consistency.
Peterson’s appeal is that he brings some of that downhill force with a cleaner jumper. At Kansas, he averaged 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 steals in 24 games while shooting 43.8 percent from the field, 38.2 percent from three, and 82.6 percent at the line.
He made 63 threes on 165 attempts, with a .527 effective field-goal percentage and .578 true-shooting mark. For a guard carrying a 33.5 percent usage rate, that is why the all-time upside conversation has not disappeared.
Darryn Peterson will likely be a top-two NBA Draft selection
The body matches the skill. Peterson measured 6-foot-4.5 without shoes, 199 pounds, with a 6-foot-9.75 wingspan and 8-foot-7 standing reach at the NBA Draft Combine.
That gives him real two-way guard size, especially when paired with pull-up shooting, rim pressure, and defensive tools. The concerns are also clear: limited playmaking reps, a 1-to-1 assist-turnover profile, and the cramping issues that cut into his Kansas workload.
Peterson’s likely home remains Washington at No. 1 or Utah at No. 2. His camp has also made a bold bet by taking only one pre-draft workout, with the Wizards.
If Washington selects AJ Dybantsa, the Jazz could still take Peterson immediately. If Utah is locked on another target, the gamble opens a small path for him to slide toward No. 3 or No. 4 in a generationally loaded class.
That still feels unlikely. The medical questions made Peterson’s No. 1 status uncertain, but Simmons’ larger point remains alive. Guards with his scoring gifts rarely sit on draft boards for long.
Read more:
