Jazz C Walker Kessler (torn labrum) out for season

Field Level Media|published: Wed 5th November, 16:19 2025

NBA: Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz

Oct 29, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) and center Walker Kessler (24) react to a play against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first quarter at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler will miss the rest of the season due to a torn labrum in his left shoulder and will have surgery, the team announced on Wednesday afternoon.

The procedure is scheduled for Thursday in Los Angeles and will be performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the Jazz said.

Kessler, 24, has not played since a 118-96 loss at Phoenix on Friday. He has averaged career highs of 14.4 points, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 30.8 minutes along with team highs of 10.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in five games (all starts).

He ranked eighth in the league through Tuesday in rebound average and seventh in blocks for Utah, which started the season 3-4.

Memphis selected Kessler with the 22nd overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft out of Auburn. The Grizzlies traded him the next day to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who dealt him on July 6, 2022, to the Jazz as part of a package of players and picks for Rudy Gobert.

For his career, Kessler averages 9.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 2.4 blocks, 0.5 steals and 25.3 minutes in 201 games (125 starts).

--Field Level Media

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