Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler’s season is over after just five games. The 24-year-old will undergo season-ending left shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum, ending his 2025-26 season, the team announced.

Kessler played in the team’s first five games of the regular season before leaving the team in the middle of a road trip due to the injury. At the time, the team announced Kessler returned to Utah to undergo more tests on his shoulder.

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Kessler missed the next two games before Wednesday’s report that he needed surgery.

Kessler also missed a large chunk of the preseason due to a left shoulder issue.

The injury comes at the worst possible time for Kessler, who was in the final year of his rookie contract with the Jazz. Kessler and the Jazz spoke various times about a possible extension during the offseason, but the two sides reportedly remained far apart.

Kessler spoke about the situation during media day in October, saying he was “a little frustrated” he couldn’t reach a deal with the team. He reiterated he loved being in Utah and would “play winning basketball” as long as he was a member of the team.

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With the situation ongoing, Kessler suited up for the Jazz once the regular season started. In five games, he averaged a career-high 14.4 points. Kessler also chipped in 10.8 rebounds and three assists prior to the injury.

While there was a possibility his play would earn him a long-term extension from the Jazz in the middle of the season, Kessler could have also been used as a valuable trade chip if he kept putting up strong numbers. Various NBA teams have tried to pry Kessler away from the Jazz, only to be turned away. If Utah felt it wasn’t going to be able to re-sign Kessler, the team could have finally given in and traded him around the deadline.

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The injury now adds a layer of uncertainty to Kessler’s next contract. Even if he checks out well medically, Kessler could see his price tag limited, thanks to playing in just five games during his walk year.

It will be up to Kessler to determine whether he receives a long-term deal that satisfies his needs, or if he would be better off taking a shorter-term contract that puts him in a more advantageous situation down the road.