Jazz fans celebrate the selection of Darryn Peterson at draft party

The anxious excitement was palpable at the Utah Jazz’s NBA draft party at The Shops at South Town Tuesday night.

Hundreds of Jazz fans crowded together in front of the broadcast and held their breath to see who Utah would take with the second pick in the draft (Kansas guard Darryn Peterson ended up being the pick).

Fans started lining up as early as midnight — 18 hours before the draft started — after the Jazz announced that the first 500 fans in attendance would get free Salt Lake City Summer League tickets.

A group of four Jazz fans — Anthony Standley, Tage Mills, Seth Kelson and Maddox McGinty — were the first to arrive at midnight.

“We were here at 12, and it was just us and the two mascot cars,” Mills said. “That was it. No one else... We mainly just came early for the summer league tickets and the experience. We didn’t want to pass it up.”

While waiting, they asked security if they could help set up barriers overnight. So, they spent a few hours helping the Jazz’s staff set up, just to release some energy.

“This is a surreal moment, honestly,” Standley said. “This is truly a top three moment of my life. I couldn’t be more excited.”

Mills agreed.

“I think it’s honestly like the happiest I’ve been about this team,” Mills said. “We have one of the brightest futures we’ve ever had. When I saw that Jaren Jackson trade, I was so happy, and then watching the lottery with my dad, we both were freaking out. I’m so excited.”

The excitement largely comes from the Jazz finally having a roster fans can get behind and has the potential to make a playoff push for the first time since 2022, when stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert were on the team.

Since the Jazz traded away Mitchell and Gobert that summer, they’ve averaged only 27 wins per season, and fans have been eager to have a team that can get back to winning.

So, when the Jazz jumped up to the second pick in May’s draft lottery, many felt like it was akin to seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

“I’ve just been so impatient,” said Jazz fan Danny Poelman Tuesday night. “I just wanted this day to come like three weeks ago. I’ve been listening to every Jazz podcast just trying to whet my appetite, get ready and feel like I’m getting something.”

Since the lottery, there have been three prospects who were a near-consensus top three: BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Peterson and Duke’s Cameron Boozer.

But the feeling was almost unanimous for Jazz fans on Tuesday; take whomever out of Dybantsa and Peterson that the Washington Wizards don’t with the first pick.

Ultimately Dybantsa went first overall, and the Jazz took Peterson with the second pick.

“You see a lot of things on (X) like, ‘Jazz are up on Cam, or Jazz want to pick AJ,” said Danny Magallanes. “I really thought Darryn was the best prospect, so it was good seeing AJ go off the board because Darryn is who we need.

“We’re so passionate, and we want to win. We’ve been waiting for four years. We haven’t been winning. We’ve been tanking, and it’s time for us to compete.”

Photo Gallery: 1 of 19

1 of 19

Photo Gallery: 2 of 19

2 of 19

Photo Gallery: 3 of 19

3 of 19

Photo Gallery: 4 of 19

4 of 19

Photo Gallery: 5 of 19

5 of 19

Photo Gallery: 6 of 19

6 of 19

Photo Gallery: 7 of 19

7 of 19

Photo Gallery: 8 of 19

8 of 19

Photo Gallery: 9 of 19

9 of 19

Photo Gallery: 10 of 19

10 of 19

Photo Gallery: 11 of 19

11 of 19

Photo Gallery: 12 of 19

12 of 19

Photo Gallery: 13 of 19

13 of 19

Photo Gallery: 14 of 19

14 of 19

Photo Gallery: 15 of 19

15 of 19

Photo Gallery: 16 of 19

16 of 19

Photo Gallery: 17 of 19

17 of 19

Photo Gallery: 18 of 19

18 of 19

Photo Gallery: 19 of 19

19 of 19

Though fans were generally excited about the pick, there were a healthy number of fans in Dybantsa BYU jerseys, hoping he was headed back to Utah.

Still, those fans seemed in high spirits at the new direction of the Jazz.

“Seeing AJ go 1 was a little disappointing just because he’s been in Utah for a long time,” said Jonathan Harr, who showed up to the draft party in a Dybantsa jersey.

“But I think Darryn Peterson is a great talent, and I was really excited to get him. There was no way to go wrong.”

If the past few months and Tuesday night have shown anything, it’s that Jazz fans’ spirits are revitalized and excited about the future.

“The past four years, it’s been a challenge, but I’ve watched every game,” Harr said. “I’ve been super excited to be a Jazz fan, and I’m even more hyped now.

“I hope Darryn can take us to the promised land, and I know the team we have now is stacked, and I think people are going to underestimate us.”