The Utah Jazz announced that forward Jaren Jackson Jr. will undergo surgery to remove a PVNS growth from his left knee, sidelining him for the remainder of the season. The issue was discovered during a post-trade physical, just three games after his acquisition from the Memphis Grizzlies. Jackson is expected to make a full recovery ahead of next season.
The Utah Jazz acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Memphis Grizzlies on February 3, sending three first-round picks in return. Shortly after, a post-trade physical including an MRI revealed a pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) growth in his left knee. PVNS is a non-cancerous condition that causes the synovium—the tissue lining joints and tendons—to thicken and overgrow, potentially leading to bone damage and arthritis if untreated, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Surgery is typically required to remove the affected tissue.
The Jazz, in consultation with Jackson, his representatives, and medical experts, decided on the procedure. Per Chris Haynes of NBA on Prime, Jackson is likely to miss the rest of the season but should fully recover. He played three games for Utah, averaging 22.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.0 steals in 24.0 minutes per game, helping the team to a 2-1 record. In his final appearance, a 121-93 win over the Sacramento Kings, Jackson scored 23 points in 22 minutes. "You just have to make an impact when you’re in the game," Jackson said. "That’s what you have to focus on. If you focus on when you’re not out there, you’re gonna struggle as a player."
Season-long, Jackson averaged 19.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and 1.1 steals across his time with both teams. A two-time All-Star (2022-23 and 2024-25) and 2022-23 Defensive Player of the Year, he has a four-year, $205 million extension starting next season. The Jazz, at 18-37 with the sixth-worst NBA record, hold a top-eight protected 2026 first-round pick owed to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Recent games, including benching stars like Jackson and Lauri Markkanen in the fourth quarter against the Orlando Magic, have fueled tanking suspicions, though the medical issue appears legitimate. Coach Will Hardy stated no plans to reinsert them. Looking ahead, Utah envisions a frontcourt of Jackson, Markkanen, and Walker Kessler, who is out for the season with a shoulder injury.
