Walter Clayton Jr. Reacts to New Nickname After NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
When the Utah Jazz picked Walter Clayton Jr. with the 18th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, fans wasted no time putting their own spin on his arrival.
It didn’t take long for social media to light up with a catchy new nickname: “Walt Lake City.” While the 22-year-old guard appreciates the love and the play on words, he’s not ready to let it stick just yet. For Clayton Jr., it’s a fun nod to his fresh start, but he knows he’s got plenty to prove before he can truly make the city his own.
In a recent press conference, Clayton Jr. was asked about the new nickname that has been going around and his thoughts on it. The newcomer gave a humble response, saying, "I got a little bit more work to put in, though, before we start calling it that."
Walter Clayton got asked about the new nickname "Walt Lake City," here’s his response 😂 pic.twitter.com/o3S0tAEcKp
— Jazz Lead (@JazzLead) June 29, 2025
The Utah Jazz picked up Walter Clayton Jr. after swinging a deal with the Wizards for the No. 18 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Clayton’s coming off one of the best seasons in Florida Gators history—he broke their single-season scoring record with 713 points and led them to a national title.
He was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player and a consensus first-team All-American. Known for his smooth shooting, Clayton knocked down 117 threes last season alone, the second-most ever by a Gator.
While he doesn’t have eye-popping athleticism or size, his deep range, pull-up game, and clutch scoring make him a promising pick. If he leans into that “microwave scorer” role off the bench, the Jazz might have found themselves a real gem.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
