“There is no team in hell that should grab Darryn Peterson at number one!”
On his morning talk show last week, longtime ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith attacked Kansas’ superstar freshman Darryn Peterson. Smith’s outburst came in response to Peterson subbing himself out early from Kansas’ 81-69 win over Oklahoma State due to muscle cramps.
The cramps are the latest in a myriad of concerns about health and work ethic that have dogged Peterson throughout his freshman year. Smith and others have accused Peterson of laziness and argued that he lacks the passion to succeed at the professional level, but their assessment of the situation is wrong. If I were an NBA general manager tasked with making the first overall pick in the 2026 draft, Darryn Peterson would still be my immediate answer.
For one, it’s not in Peterson’s interest to fight through these injuries. Playing through minor injuries such as cramps and sprains increases the risks of muscle tears, joint damage, and other more severe injuries that could follow him further into his career. While NBA scouts may be concerned by Peterson sitting out games, they would likely be even more put off by elaborate surgeries and long recovery periods.
Despite limited playtime, he’s been a crucial force behind the Jayhawks’ offense. He averages 19.5 points per game, one of the highest scoring averages in the Bill Self era at Kansas. In the Oklahoma State game where he faced criticism for leaving after only 18 minutes, he led the team with 23 points. His playstyle has earned comparisons ranging from NBA All-Stars Devin Booker and Brandon Roy to the legendary Kobe Bryant.
With these talents, Peterson likely has a contract upwards of $50 million waiting for him on Draft Day, so it doesn’t make sense for him to risk that by giving 100% in college. Peterson’s situation is far from unique; we’ve seen this problem since the NBA Draft’s 2005 rule change requiring players to be at least one year removed from high school.
While well-intentioned, the rule leads to players such as Peterson writing college off as a required pit-stop to prepare for their professional career. While Peterson’s attitude can be justified by the NBA Draft’s arbitrary rule, it harms the sport of college basketball. Given the choice, Peterson and dozens of other players would likely go straight to the pros; this whole controversy is an argument in favor of letting them.
When I look at Darryn Peterson, I see a 19-year-old going through the motions of his mandatory year of college, waiting to take the final step to the pros. Some call this attitude lazy and careless, but Peterson is just prioritizing his future, and I can’t blame him at all for making that choice.
The only way that Peterson can silence his critics will be with strong performances on the court throughout the crucial yet tumultuous month of March.
