Kansas men's basketball player, Darryn Peterson, has responded to ESPN's Stephen A. Smith's comments suggesting that he might have missed 11 games of his freshman season due to NIL disputes rather than injury. Peterson stated that it was "frustrating" to hear such comments, but he respected Smith's right to express his own thoughts. He had previously missed significant time due to injury, including seven games due to "cramping" and seven games in which he was benched after fewer than 25 minutes on the court. The latest 2026 NBA mock draft by Jonathan Wasserman predicts Peterson as the No. 3 pick in the upcoming draft, which could potentially boost his draft stock if he stays fit for the upcoming NCAA Tournament.