Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. The injury will sideline him for the remainder of the 2025-26 NBA season, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Kessler, 24, was initially ruled out of Utah's game against the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday, November 2, 2025 due to shoulder bursitis, a lingering issue that also caused him to miss time in the preseason. Further evaluation in Salt Lake City revealed the torn labrum, necessitating the season-ending procedure.
Kessler's absence will be a significant blow for the Jazz, as Kessler (who appeared in only five games this season) was having a strong start, averaging a career-high 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. The timing is also unfortunate for Kessler personally, as he is set to become a restricted free agent next summer after he and the Jazz did not agree on a contract extension before the season's deadline. Veteran center Jusuf Nurkic is expected to take over the starting center duties in his absence.
Editorial credit: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com