The Jazz and a security guard Keyonte George have reached a rookie-scale expansion deal worth $157.5 million over five years, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania and Tim McMahon (Link to Twitter).
The deal will take effect in 2027/28 after George earns $6.56 million in the final year of his rookie contract in 2026/27. It will run through the ’31/32 season and will not involve either a player or a team, according to Charanya (Link to Twitter).
According to Jake Fisher of The Stein Line (Link to Twitter), the contract will include $500,000 in annual incentives. Fisher estimates that $2.5 million in total bonuses is included in the total of $157.5 million, which would put the base value of the deal at $155 million.
George, who will turn 23 in November, was selected 16th overall in the 2023 draft. The 6-foot-4 combo guard immediately became a rebounding Jazz rotation player as a rookie and has consistently increased his production in each of his three NBA seasons.
In the 2025/26 season, George averaged 23.6 points, 6.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 33.1 minutes per game over 54 appearances (all starts) before missing the final month of the season with a hamstring strain. He hit .456/.371/.892.
While George has been productive on offense, it was unclear how aggressively the Jazz would try to lock him down before the rookie wide receiver because of his limitations on the other end of the floor. The former Baylor standout has been ranked as one of the NBA’s worst defenders based on advanced stats over the past three years, with Utah’s 29th or 30th ranked defense in each of those seasons.
Still, the Jazz’s long-term commitment to George is indicative of their faith in his ability to continue to improve defensively, as well as their belief that he’ll be a good fit at this year’s No. 2 overall pick. Darrin Peterson. While neither George nor Peterson are traditional point guards, Utah is said to be confident in the duo’s ability to share ball-handling and backcourt responsibilities.
George is the third first round pick in the 2023 draft sign the novice scale extension this offseason, joining the Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama and Rocket Guard Amin Thompson. Wembanyama signed a five-year contract with a maximum salary of $255 million, while Thompson agreed to a five-year, $208 million deal with a 10 percent trade kicker.
(RELATED: Players eligible for the 2026 rookie scale expansion)
At $155 million over five years, George will average $31 million annually in his second NBA contract, well below the projected maximum of $51 million per year. He could increase that average annual salary to $31.5 million by earning his bonuses.
The Jazz now have all franchise cornerstones under contract for at least the next three seasons. Lauri Markkanenand Ace BaileyThe deals expire in 2029, while Peterson’s rookie deal runs through 2030. A great man Jaren Jackson Jr has three more guaranteed years remaining on his contract with a player option for the 2029/30 season.
