Jazz C Jaren Jackson Jr. to be evaluated in 4 weeks after knee surgery

Utah Jazz center Jaren Jackson Jr. underwent successful left knee surgery, the team announced via social media Tuesday. 

Jackson’s surgery was done to remove a localized pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) growth in his left knee. He’ll begin rehab and be evaluated after four weeks. The procedure was performed by Dr. Travis Maak on Tuesday morning in Salt Lake City.

Utah acquired Jackson at the trade deadline earlier this month in an eight-player multi-draft pick deal with the Memphis Grizzlies. But the team announced just three games into his tenure with him that he'd be out for the rest of the campaign with the injury. Jackson is in his eighth NBA season and making $35 million this season. That number jumps to $50 million next season and to over $52 million the following year. 

In 48 games this season, Jackson averaged 19.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.4 blocks per game. The Grizzlies are in 11th place in the Western Conference at 20-33, while the Jazz are in 13th place at 18-38 as one of the worst teams in the NBA. 

Jackson was drafted No. 4 overall by Memphis in 2018. During his time with the Grizzlies, Jackson developed into one of the league's best defenders and took home Defensive Player of the Year honors for the 2022-23 campaign. 

With the Grizzlies, Jackson was a three-time All-Defensive selection, two-time All-Star, two-time league leader in blocks and finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting in 2019. He also finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season.