NBA: Jazz Forward Jaren Jackson Jr. has surgery to remove growth in left knee

Utah Jazz forward Jaren Jackson Jr. underwent successful surgery on Tuesday to remove a growth in his left knee, the team announced.

The Jazz said Jackson, 26, will begin rehabilitation and be re-evaluated in four weeks. Dr. Travis Maak, the team’s head orthopedic physician, performed the procedure in Salt Lake City to remove a localized pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) growth.

The PVNS growth was discovered during a physical exam and confirmed by MRI after Utah’s eight-player trade with the Memphis Grizzlies on Feb. 3.

A two-time All-Star, Jackson averaged 22.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in three games (all starts) with the Jazz. He contributed 19.2 points and 5.8 rebounds in 45 games with the Grizzlies earlier this season.

Drafted fourth overall by Memphis in 2018, Jackson has career averages of 18.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in 455 regular-season games (446 starts). He earned All-Star honors in 2022-23 and 2024-25.

Jackson was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2022-23 and is a three-time All-Defensive Team selection and two-time league leader in blocked shots. He has three seasons remaining on a five-year, $205 million contract, which includes a player option for the 2029-30 season.

—Field Level Media/Reuters