Utah Jazz rookie Darryn Peterson has opened up about the severe cramping episodes he experienced during his freshman season at Kansas, describing one incident that left him in excruciating pain and required hospital treatment.
“After one of the practices…I started experiencing like intense cramps in which my whole body was cramping everywhere. All my muscles were cramping. 35, 40 minutes of just intense cramping,” Peterson said.
The guard recalled medical staff struggling to find a vein before he was taken to the hospital on a bed. He described the pain as exceeding 10 on a scale of one to 10.
“I remember telling people I thought I was gonna die on the training table that day,” Peterson said.
The 19-year-old also addressed the rumors surrounding his health during his time at Kansas, saying the personal criticism was particularly difficult to deal with.
“Obviously, there was a ton of rumors and stuff that came out. I think what bothered me the most was just the character attacks, stuff that was so far from the truth. That’s what bothered me,” he added.
Peterson entered college basketball as one of the most highly regarded prospects in his class but played only 23 games for Kansas during the 2025-26 season. He averaged 20.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 28.7 minutes per game, shooting 44.3% from the field and 38.2% from three-point range.
Despite the health concerns, the Utah Jazz selected Peterson with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-6 guard became the centerpiece of a Utah team looking to move beyond four consecutive losing seasons.
Peterson appeared in four preseason games for the Jazz, averaging 13.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He scored a preseason-high 23 points against Denver on October 7, shooting 9-for-12 from the field, before recording 13 points, six rebounds and six assists against Phoenix on October 17.
Utah is preparing to build around Peterson alongside Jaren Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen and Ace Bailey as the rookie begins his NBA career.
