Utah Jazz basketball player Walker Kessler is confirmed to be out until the end of the 2025-2026 NBA season, after suffering a left shoulder injury that requires surgery, as announced by the club.
According to the NBA website, as quoted in Jakarta on Thursday, the center underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum today in Los Angeles.
The injury forced the 23-year-old to retire early, despite his impressive start to the season.
In his first five games of the season, Kessler averaged 14.4 points per game (ppg), 10.8 rebounds per game (rpg), and 1.8 blocks per game (bpg).
He also performed efficiently, shooting 70.3 percent. Interestingly, Kessler has begun to improve his long-range shooting skills. He hit six of eight three-pointers, after hitting just 11 of 56 attempts in his first three NBA seasons.
Kessler opened the season with a stellar performance, scoring 22 points on seven attempts, along with nine rebounds and four blocks in a win against the Los Angeles Clippers.
In the next two games, he again showed his dominance with 25 points and 11 rebounds against the Phoenix Suns.
Kessler's absence presents a significant test for the Utah Jazz, who rely on him as their primary defensive guard under the rim. The team must now find an alternative to fill the void at center for the remainder of the season.
