Jaren Jackson Jr.’s return game in Memphis will have to wait.<\/p>\n
Jackson, who was traded Feb. 3 by the Grizzlies<\/a> to the Utah Jazz<\/a>, will have surgery to remove a localized pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) growth in his left knee. The PVNS was was discovered in an MRI during a physical after the trade.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Surgery is expected in the coming days over the All-Star break, according to the Jazz on Feb. 12.<\/p>\n Jackson is expected to make a full recovery. Multiple reports indicate the 6-foot-11 forward will likely miss the remainder of the season.<\/p>\n The injury will sideline Jackson for an upcoming game between the Grizzlies and Jazz on Feb. 20 at FedExForum. He’s also expected to miss an April 10 meeting between the two teams in Utah.<\/p>\n Jackson was traded from the Grizzlies as part of an eight-player deal.<\/a> Jock Landale, Vince Williams Jr. and John Konchar were also traded to the Jazz for Georges Niang, Kyle Anderson, Walter Clayton Jr., Taylor Hendricks and three future first-round picks.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n In three games with the Jazz, Jackson was off to a strong start. He averaged 22.3 points on 49% shooting. However he was averaging only 24 minutes per game, sitting out fourth quarters.<\/p>\n Jackson averaged 18.5 points in nearly eight seasons in Memphis. He made two All-Star appearances and won the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2023.<\/p>\n Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies<\/a> beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.<\/p>\n