What Happened to Walker Kessler? Jazz Star to Miss Entire 2025–26 NBA Season

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What Happened to Walker Kessler? Jazz Star to Miss Entire 2025–26 NBA Season

Originally posted on EssentiallySports
By Aayaan Sayadee | Last updated Nov 5, 2025 5:16 PM ET

Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler will miss the entire 2025-26 NBA season due to a significant shoulder injury that requires immediate surgical intervention. The team’s defensive anchor received a devastating diagnosis just five games into the regular season, altering both his personal trajectory and Utah’s frontline plans.

Kessler is undergoing season-ending left shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum. ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the procedure, which will sideline the fourth-year big man for several months. The injury occurred during the early stages of the season, though the exact moment of the tear remains unspecified.

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The shoulder issue had been bothering Kessler since preseason activities. He missed three of Utah’s first four exhibition games due to shoulder soreness and was listed as questionable for the regular season opener with left shoulder bursitis. The problem escalated during the Jazz’s Halloween night loss to Phoenix, prompting team medical staff to send him back to Salt Lake City for advanced testing while the team continued their road trip.

(This is a building story….)

This article first appeared on EssentiallySports and was syndicated with permission.

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