Walker Kessler, the promising center for the Utah Jazz, will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. The 24-year-old’s promising career took a hard hit when he was player’s first-round pick MVP level PE vibrant hues. Unfortunately, he was limited to just five games played. His continued absence will be a major blow to the Jazz as they try to fight through the rest of the season.
Kessler was off to a historic start of the year. Before he went down with injury, he was averaging 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.8 blocks a game. His impact on the defensive end was central to the Jazz’s identity, earning him a reputation as an irreplaceable cog on the Jazz’s first-ever playoff team. In the aftermath of the injury, Kessler’s attention will now go to the recovery and rehabilitation process.
In light of Kessler’s injury, Jusuf Nurkic has stepped into the starting lineup to fill the gap left by his teammate. The Jazz will need Nurkic’s veteran leadership to keep them in the playoff hunt as Kessler recovers.
Even as Kessler gets set for surgery, the questions about his long-term future with the team continue to dominate the conversation. In the months leading up to the October deadline, the Utah Jazz were busy inking extensions with Kessler. They were looking to lengthen out his rookie contract deal. Of course, today’s reports say that the two sides are far from an agreement. Kessler is headed for restricted free agency this offseason. This is a mixed blessing for his career path going forward.
The choice to go with season-ending surgery reflects the seriousness of Kessler’s injury and the need to guarantee that he fully recovers. The Jazz organization is well aware of the responsibility that comes with developing their young, rich talent as they look to climb the mountain toward sustained success.
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