Boozer, Peterson Star in Summer League Debuts
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- Darryn Peterson scored 28 points on 11-of-21 shooting in 27 minutes during the Jazz's 103-102 overtime win over the Hawks, though the rookie guard also committed eight turnovers while playing point guard.
- Cameron Boozer posted 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting with four rebounds and four assists in 24 minutes, anchoring the Grizzlies' 111-74 blowout of the Thunder.
- Boozer punctuated his first NBA possession with a two-hand dunk over 7-foot-3 lottery pick Aday Mara, and scouts at the Huntsman Center singled out his passing as the most impressive element of his debut.
- The Jazz considered selecting Cameron Boozer at No. 2 but passed on him because they believed Peterson had the highest ceiling in the draft — a decision Utah fans reinforced with MVP chants when Peterson drew an and-1 foul.
- Carlos Boozer, the former NBA All-Star and a Jazz scout, sat courtside wearing a Grizzlies cap; his son joked that he had become 'team Grizzly' once Memphis drafted Cameron.
- Jazz coach Will Hardy acknowledged the weight of Peterson's debut, saying 'today is a hard game to play in because of all the expectation and hype,' while praising the rookie for staying aggressive within the offense.
- The two rookies are scheduled to face each other Monday, giving an early look at two of the draft's top-three selections going head-to-head.
Why it matters: The No. 2 and No. 3 picks delivered exactly the kind of debuts their franchises hoped for on the same day in Salt Lake City: Peterson dropped 28 with an aggressive scoring burst, while Boozer showed the playmaking that scouts raved about. Utah's decision to take Peterson over Boozer now has an early, tangible result to point to — and Monday's head-to-head will be the first real referendum on that call.
