SALT LAKE CITY – Walker Kessler will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 NBA season after suffering a torn labrum.
ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news on social media.
“Utah’s Walker Kessler is undergoing season-ending left shoulder surgery for a torn labrum, sources tell ESPN,” Charania wrote.
Related: Walker Kessler Leaves Jazz Trip With Shoulder Injury
Utah Jazz Center Walker Kessler Out For Season
Kessler left the Jazz roster on Sunday before the Jazz faced the Charlotte Hornets to undergo testing on the shoulder injury.
The fourth-year center had played in all five Jazz games this season before leaving the team amid their five-game road trip.
Obviously, this radically changes the @utahjazz‘s season, and significantly alters how much he will sign for this offseason.
Also, he’s not a trade option anymore. https://t.co/92MpvJHRgE
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) November 5, 2025
Kessler was averaging a career-high 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks while shooting 78 percent from the field.
The Jazz have not disclosed when the injury occurred, but Kessler previously missed the team’s first three preseason games due to an issue with the same shoulder.
Impact of Walker Kessler Injury on the Jazz
Kessler’s injury will significantly alter the trajectory of the Jazz’s season and reshape their plans for the upcoming summer.
On the court, the Jazz lose one of the NBA’s premier rim protectors and the cornerstone of their interior defense. Kessler has also emerged as one of the league’s top rebounders and a highly efficient scorer around the basket.
Without Kessler in the lineup, the Jazz must now depend on aging veterans Jusuf Nurkic and Kevin Love to fill the 48 minutes at center each night.
Currently holding a 3-4 record, the Jazz sit in ninth place in the Western Conference. Their 2026 first-round draft pick will transfer to the Oklahoma City Thunder if it lands between picks 9–30. However, if the pick falls within the top eight after the draft lottery, the Jazz will retain it.
Kessler’s Contract Situation
The Jazz did not reach a contract extension with Kessler during the offseason, making the former Auburn standout a restricted free agent in 2026.
Although he started the season strong, Kessler will now enter free agency recovering from a serious shoulder injury, which could weaken his leverage in negotiations.
The Jazz must also evaluate their comfort level in offering Kessler a contract potentially worth over $100 million, especially after labrum surgery and a lost year of development.
Additionally, Kessler’s name frequently appeared in trade rumors earlier in the season—speculation that will now end with his season officially over.
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Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.