The 2026 NBA Draft is in the books and while they were hoping to hear their names called, a couple of Michigan State big men went 60 picks without a phone call.
The call did come for both shortly after Wednesday night’s second round, however.
For Jaxon Kohler, he’s headed back home. Although he wasn’t in many mock drafts, he was still hopeful that he would get selected at some point in the second round but the 30 picks on Wednesday came and went pretty quickly and Kohler didn’t hear his name called nor his phone ring.
One of the best calls he’s ever gotten came shortly after the draft from the Utah Jazz who expressed interest in the Michigan State power forward, signing him to an Exhibit 10 deal.
MSU senior forward Jaxon Kohler has agreed to a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 deal with his home state Utah Jazz, per his father Jeff Kohler.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) June 25, 2026
For those who don’t know, an Exhibit 10 deal is basically a training camp and Summer League invite that could turn into a two-way contract. This could also turn into Kohler signing with the Utah Jazz’s G-League affiliate. It’s a foot in the door and that’s all you can really ask for as an undrafted NBA hopeful.
Kohler now gets a chance to try out for the team that he grew up rooting for. The American Fork, Utah, native grew up watching the Jazz and now he’ll be pushing for a roster spot.
This has to be a dream come true for the Spartan big man and his father who has been supporting him every step of the way. There’s a world where Kohler eventually makes the Jazz roster and gets paired up with Jaren Jackson Jr. in the post. That’s a world I want to live in.
Jaxon Kohler is getting his opportunity
As an NBA hopeful, all you can really ask for is a shot. Kohler is going to get a shot with the Jazz and while it’s unlikely that an undrafted free agent makes the active roster, he’s one of the hardest workers to come through East Lansing in a while so I’m not going to be the one to doubt him.
Kohler had a breakout senior season with Michigan State where he was on pace to break some big man shooting records but he hit a bit of a wall midway through the year.
He finished strong, however.
The Spartan big man who once held the name “Baby Jokic” will now get his shot at the NBA in the form of a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 deal. Raise your hand if you’ll be glued to the TV like me for all of his Summer League games.
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