Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Utah Jazz forward Jaren Jackson Jr., obtained in a trade with Memphis last week, will undergo surgery to remove a growth on his left knee, the NBA club announced Thursday. Jackson, averaging 19.4 points and 5.7 rebounds a game, is likely to miss the remainder of the season after the surgery, set for the upcoming NBA All-Star break.
Jackson was found to have a localized pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) growth — a large tumor that can cause joint damage if not removed — in his left knee during an MRI exam following his post-trade physical. The club, Jackson, his agent, and medical experts consulted before deciding the operation would come in the next few days.
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Jackson, the 2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, is expected to make a full recovery, the Jazz said in a statement, but no timetable for his return was revealed. Two-time NBA All-Star Jackson is in his eighth NBA campaign with career averages of 18.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, and 1.5 assists.
Jackson, 26, came to Utah from Memphis in a February 3 deal involving eight players and three first-round NBA Draft picks that went to the Grizzlies. He scored 22 points last Saturday in his Jazz debut, a 120-117 loss at Orlando. At 18-37, the Jazz rank 13th in the Western Conference.
© 2024 AFP
