Feb 11, 2026; Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz ahead Jaren Jackson Jr. (20) plans his subsequent transfer round Sacramento Kings guard/ahead DeMar DeRozan (10) in the course of the first half at Delta Middle. Obligatory Credit score: Peter Creveling-Imagn Photos The high-profile homecoming for Jaren Jackson Jr. won’t materialize.
When the Memphis Grizzlies despatched the veteran ahead to the Utah Jazz shortly earlier than the Feb. 5 commerce deadline, they realized the schedule-makers had inbuilt an intriguing mid-February matchup.
However when the Grizzlies play the visiting Jazz on Friday, Jackson won’t be in uniform. The previous Defensive Participant of the Yr, in his eighth NBA season, underwent profitable surgical procedure earlier this week in Salt Lake Metropolis to take away a localized pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) development from his left knee. A bodily carried out after the commerce revealed the expansion.
Jackson, the league’s high defender in 2022-23, will likely be out for at the least 4 weeks, in keeping with the Jazz, and will return to the court docket later this season.
In his crew debut on Feb. 7 towards the Orlando Magic, he had 22 factors, three assists and three steals in 25 minutes. He’s averaging 19.4 factors, 5.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 48 video games, all however three with the Grizzlies.
Jackson, John Konchar and Vince Williams Jr. went from the Grizzlies to the Jazz on Feb. 3. Memphis obtained Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three first-round draft picks.
Utah coach Will Hardy has solely labored with Jackson briefly, however he stated the Jazz knew the standard individual and participant they have been getting.
“After we traded for Jaren, clearly there may be a lot speak about (Jaren) the participant,” Hardy stated. “And I am very excited concerning the participant. However what we try to construct as a corporation and a program, Jaren’s character, and who he’s as an individual, is simply as necessary.
“That has been evident because the day that he (joined the Jazz). He’s a high-character man. He has humorousness. He additionally has a respect degree that comes with him due to how he has performed throughout his profession.”
Letting go of one other key member of the Grizzlies’ core was troublesome for Memphis common supervisor Zach Kleiman, nevertheless it might be a transfer that pays dividends.
“We felt good concerning the return (for Jackson) and we felt it more healthy for the group to show the web page as a lot as we have been in a position to and be capable to construct this crew with a transparent thoughts as to what we’re attempting to attain going ahead, which is pivoting to a youthful construct,” Kleiman stated. “We’re not shying away from that. That is the place this crew is.”
Whereas the Grizzlies regulate to life with out Jackson for the primary time since he was taken with the No. 4 choose within the 2018 draft, they’re hoping to snap a four-game shedding streak with out star guard Ja Morant.
Sidelined with a left elbow sprain since Jan. 23, Morant missed the crew’s final 11 video games and is anticipated to overlook one other two weeks. He has solely appeared in 20 video games due to a wide range of accidents.
With Morant out, guard Ty Jerome lately returned from a proper calf damage that had him unavailable from the beginning of the season. In his six video games again, Jerome has averaged 19.7 factors in 20.2 minutes.
Different contributions have come from Jaylen Wells, Cam Spencer and Cedric Coward, who have been chosen to play in final Friday’s Rising Stars mini-tournament at NBA All-Star Weekend. Coward was withheld from motion on account of knee soreness.
Jazz standout Keyonte George missed six of the ultimate seven video games earlier than the break on account of accidents to every ankle. He’s averaging 23.8 factors in 48 video games.
–Discipline Degree Media
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