Utah Jazz center Jaren Jackson Jr. will undergo surgery to remove a localized pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) growth in his left knee, effectively ending his 2025-26 season. The growth was discovered during a post-trade MRI following his acquisition from Memphis.
PVNS is a rare joint condition in which synovial tissue grows abnormally, causing pain, swelling, and limited mobility. Surgical removal is standard treatment, with recovery typically taking three to six months depending on rehabilitation progress.
Jackson, a two-time All-Star who made his debut in 2023, is expected to make a full recovery after the procedure scheduled over the NBA All-Star break. Medical consultations with multiple experts guided the decision for immediate surgery.
The news arrives shortly after Utah acquired the 26-year-old big man from the Memphis Grizzlies in a major deadline deal. The Jazz sent Walter Clayton Jr., Taylor Hendricks, Kyle Anderson, Georges Niang and three future first-round picks to Memphis as part of the transaction.
Jackson had appeared in only three games with his new team, averaging 22.3 points while providing rim protection and spacing from the center position. His absence removes a defensive anchor from a roster that already ranks near the bottom of the Western Conference standings at 18-37.
