Jazz Announce Lauri Markkanen Injury Update After NBA Intervention

If the NBA was monitoring Markkanen's MRI, then the results definitely gave the Jazz enough room to justify ruling out their star forward. It'll be hard for the NBA to press on this issue if their independent doctor verifies Markkanen's health, which might end the league office's investigations into the Jazz and their team-wide injuries.

Reports on February 27 allege that the NBA never ended up sending doctors to monitor Markkanen's MRI.

Markkanen is averaging 26.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 42 games this season. The 28-year-old signed a five-year, $238 million deal in the summer of 2024 and is expected to be a franchise cornerstone going forward. The team clearly has high hopes for next season, hoping that coach Will Hardy can help them return to the Playoffs after a three-year tanking effort with mixed results.

The Jazz went from perennial playoff contenders to lottery fodder after trading away Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell in the summer of 2023. They're hoping that this season is the last one without being competitive, acquiring former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. to pair with defensive center Walker Kessler, who was ruled out for the 2025-26 season in November.

Even if the Jazz deny that they're tanking, there's a good reason the NBA suspects it. The 2026 NBA Draft Class is considered to be one of the best in recent memory, with the Jazz hoping to acquire the final piece of their rebuild with a hopefully top-three pick.