DETROIT — Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler will undergo season-ending left shoulder surgery on a torn labrum, according to multiple reports.
Kessler was initially ruled out of Sunday’s game in Charlotte with bursitis in his left shoulder — the same injury he missed time with during the preseason — but flew back to Salt Lake City for further evaluation.
That evaluation came with some bad news.
The fourth-year center looked primed for another leap in the first week of the season, averaging 14.4 points and 10.8 rebounds in Utah’s first five games, and anchoring what had been a surprisingly competitive defense.
Now, he’ll enter restricted free agency next summer after missing nearly a full season.
This story will be updated.
