Kansas star Darryn Peterson says creatine caused concussions and hospitalizations
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Kansas star Darryn Peterson may have been selected in the top five of this summer’s NBA Draft, but there was a time a few months ago when he didn’t think that day would come.
Peterson missed 11 games this season and had his time cut short in several others due to a series of hamstring problems, but the worst came before the season even started.
Peterson told ESPN recently that in September, he was rushed to the hospital after suffering a full-body heart attack.
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Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson controls the ball against a St. Louis guard. John’s Red Storm’s Oziyah Sellers in the second half of an NCAA Tournament men’s second-round game at Viejas Arena in San Diego, California, on March 22, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Images)
“I got to the training room and started begging them to call 911. They were trying to get an IV, get me back in the water. But I was squeezing so hard I couldn’t get an IV,” Peterson said.
“I thought I was going to die on the training table that day.”
After months of searching for answers, Peterson said high doses of creatine caused the cramping.
Creatine, used to increase muscle size, is perhaps the most studied supplement on the market and has many benefits. But for Peterson, it created a scary situation.
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“I had never taken it before [going to college]. But after the season I took two weeks off and they did tests that showed that my initial level was high. So, they said if I drink, it must be unsafe levels,” he said.
Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson drives the ball against Iowa State Cyclones forward Dominykas Pleta during the second half of a Big 12 basketball game on Feb. 14, 2026, at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. (Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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“It just got me into trouble because I didn’t know what was causing it. Nothing has ever bothered me. Soccer is my life. What I love to do. But something is happening that I can’t explain.”
Peterson no longer takes creatine and has had no problems since. He even played at least 30 minutes in Kansas’ last eight games this past season.
Peterson’s lack of play, of course, drew criticism, but he did everything he could to play.
“They saw that I was in rehab every day before practice, after practice. Get massages. Trying all kinds of things. Carb loading because they thought I didn’t have glucose or something. Electrolytes. Liquid IV, LMNT. I changed my diet. I prepared meals. Everything I could think of,” he said.
Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson running back after making a three-pointer against the Houston Cougars inside Allen Fieldhouse on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. (Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Head coach Bill Self even decided that playing off the ball would prevent him from overexerting himself, which could lead to more stress.
Peterson averaged 20.2 points per game and is expected to be one of the first players off the board next month.
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