The Utah Jazz have spent lots of time near the bottom of the NBA standings, but that might finally be starting to pay off. ESPN's panel of experts sees Utah as one of the teams most likely to make a major leap in 2026. The Jazz tied the Indiana Pacers for the top spot in the "Surprise teams" voting, with both teams receiving 46 points.
That's a strong endorsement for a team that hasn't exactly been associated with winning lately. For Utah, there's a very obvious reason to be excited about what could come next: Darryn Peterson. The Jazz landed the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft after finishing near the bottom of the standings, and they used it to select Peterson.
That's the kind of thing that can change the direction of a franchise, and ESPN's panel clearly believes Utah is in position to take advantage of it. Sports news: Patriots Rookie Has Made a Strong First Impression Peterson isn't the only reason the Jazz could look dramatically different. Utah also made a significant move during the 2025-26 season, acquiring Jaren Jackson Jr. in a trade.
Jackson, a proven high-end starter, could be a major part of a potential turnaround after sitting for most or all of the remainder of last season. That gives the Jazz an interesting combination heading into the new season: a highly touted young player in Peterson and an established talent in Jackson. So, it's easy to see why ESPN's panel has Utah tied for the top spot in its surprise-team predictions.
The Jazz received 46 points in the voting, putting them well ahead of the Washington Wizards, who finished third with 20 points. The Dallas Mavericks and Philadelphia 76ers tied for fourth with 15 points, while the Atlanta Hawks received 14. The Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers each received 10.
That puts the Jazz in some interesting company, but the more important part is where Utah sits at the top. More sports: Baker Mayfield’s Season Could Get off to Rocky Start, NFL Analyst Says After spending last season at the bottom of the standings, the Jazz now have a chance to show that the losing served a purpose. Landing Peterson with the No. 2 pick gives the franchise a new piece to build around, while Jackson provides another established player who could help accelerate the turnaround.
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