Jazz Forward Jaren Jackson Jr. to Undergo Knee Surgery, Likely Out for Season
Just nine days after landing in Utah as part of a blockbuster eight-player trade with Memphis, Jaren Jackson Jr.’s debut season with the Jazz is hitting an abrupt pause. The team announced Thursday that the All-Star forward will undergo surgery over the All-Star break to remove a localized pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) growth in his left knee.
While the Jazz have yet to release a timetable for Jackson’s return, multiple reports indicate the procedure is expected to sideline him for the remainder of the season. The PVNS growth was discovered during a post-trade physical exam, which included an MRI.
The timing is tough, especially considering how quickly Jackson had started to gel with his new squad. In just his third game with Utah, he dropped 23 points in only 22 minutes during a dominant 121-93 win over the Kings. Through three starts with the Jazz, Jackson has averaged 22.3 points and 4.3 rebounds-numbers that speak to his immediate impact and offensive versatility.
Before the trade, Jackson was putting up 19.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game across 45 contests with the Grizzlies. At 26, he’s already built an impressive résumé: two-time All-Star, 2022-23 Defensive Player of the Year, three-time All-Defensive team selection, and a two-time league leader in blocks. He’s been a defensive anchor and a matchup nightmare on both ends of the floor.
Drafted fourth overall by Memphis back in 2018, Jackson has career averages of 18.6 points and 5.6 rebounds over 455 games (446 starts). He’s under contract through the 2028-29 season, with a player option for 2029-30, as part of a five-year, $205 million deal.
For a Jazz team that’s been retooling on the fly, losing Jackson-especially after giving up significant assets to acquire him-is a blow. But the long-term vision remains intact. Jackson’s defensive instincts, shot-blocking prowess, and ability to stretch the floor will be key pieces of Utah’s future once he’s healthy.
NBA Fines Jazz, Pacers for Violations of League Policy
The NBA came down hard on the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers on Thursday, issuing a pair of fines totaling $600,000 for conduct the league deemed detrimental to the integrity of competition.
Utah was hit with a $500,000 fine stemming from its handling of player rotations in two early February games-specifically, the Feb. 7 matchup against the Magic and the Feb. 9 game against the Heat. In both contests, the Jazz sat key forwards Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. for the entire fourth quarter. The league noted that the outcomes of those games were “thereafter in doubt,” with the contests ultimately decided by a combined seven points.
In Orlando, Utah let a 94-87 lead slip away in the fourth, falling 120-117. Two nights later, they managed to hang on for a 115-111 win over Miami despite again benching their top players down the stretch. The league viewed the decisions as undermining the competitive nature of the games.
The Pacers, meanwhile, were fined $100,000 after an independent physician determined that forward Pascal Siakam and two other starters could have played-at least in limited minutes-during Indiana’s Feb. 3 game against the Jazz. According to the league, the Pacers could have managed player rest in a way that better aligned with the NBA’s player participation policy.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver didn’t mince words in his statement.
“Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition,” Silver said. “We will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games.”
Silver also noted that the league is working with the Competition Committee and Board of Governors to explore additional measures aimed at curbing similar conduct going forward.
The message is clear: the NBA is drawing a firmer line when it comes to player availability and competitive fairness-especially in tightly contested games where stars are conspicuously absent.
Big Ten Women’s Basketball: No. 7 Michigan Storms Back to Beat Northwestern
On the college hardwood, No. 7 Michigan shook off a slow start and a seven-point third-quarter deficit to take control late, outscoring Northwestern 80-58 in Evanston, Illinois.
The turning point came midway through the third, when the Wolverines ripped off a 14-0 run that completely flipped the momentum. Ashley Sofilkanich sparked the surge with six of her eight points during that stretch, helping Michigan (21-4, 12-2 Big Ten) bounce back strong after a tough loss to No. 2 UCLA.
Olivia Olson was the engine once again, putting together a near triple-double with 21 points, eight boards, and seven assists. Syla Swords added 16 points, and Kendall Dudley chipped in 12, giving Michigan a balanced offensive attack that proved too much for the Wildcats.
Northwestern (8-16, 2-11) got 16 points each from Caroline Lau and Grace Sullivan, with Tayla Thomas adding 13. But the Wildcats were undone by sloppy ball-handling-20 turnovers that led directly to 23 Michigan points. It marked Northwestern’s sixth straight loss, and against a top-10 opponent, the margin for error was simply too thin.
For Michigan, the win keeps them in the thick of the Big Ten title race and shows their resilience after a rare stumble. With March approaching, the Wolverines are rounding into form-and doing it with depth, defense, and a star guard in Olson who continues to elevate her game.