Darryn Peterson is doing everything he can right now at the NBA Combine to try to regain that No. 1 pick status. He has talked with the Washington Wizards, the winners of the NBA Draft Lottery, performed well in the drills, and tried to help himself in the media.
Peterson has the talent to be the No. 1 pick, the same talent he had coming into college, but his limited availability in his lone college basketball season didn't do him any favors with his draft stock. Now, Peterson is simply doing everything he can to help the image that was created.
The former Kansas Jayhawk had an interview on SportsCenter while at the Combine, and he feels he is like one NBA player, in a great comparison for how talented he truly is.
Darryn Peterson's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander comparison isn't too far off
When speaking with SportsCenter anchor Brian Custer, Peterson was asked about why he feels Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a good NBA comparison for his game, and Peterson gave a great answer.
"I think two big guards," Peterson said. "Two guards that use their body to score well, and I would say unguardable."
Darryn Peterson breaks down why he feels SGA is his NBA comparison on SportsCenter with @BCusterTV đź’Ş
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 14, 2026
Do you agree? pic.twitter.com/bsi4CWoPPd
Peterson wasn't too far off in his description, standing at 6-foot-6, the same height as SGA, and being a physically guard that is able to get to the basket and finish at the rim. Peterson also has a great ability to create space for an open step back shot, just like SGA, which in turn makes him pretty tough to guard.
Peterson could have gone off even more this season if he hadn't been dealing with the cramping problem, because many times when he would come out early in the second half, he would have had a big first half. There were many games where Peterson would leave a game with 15-plus points in the first half alone, but then wasn't able to build on it in the second half.
Now that the cramping problem has been figured out, as it was due to high doses of creatine he was taking to help with building muscle, Peterson can get back to his high-scoring ways in the NBA.
This is a great comparison for Peterson, as SGA just took home his first NBA MVP award this season, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to another big season and now through a postseason run.
Peterson still has work to do in order to try adn reach that No. 1 pick again, but feeling like he's on the level as one of the best players in the NBA is a good start, and now he just needs to prove it.
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