Eight Debate: How Does Walker Kessler’s Injury Impact The Youth?
Nov 12, 2025, 8:55 PM | Updated: Nov 13, 2025, 10:29 am
SALT LAKE CITY – An injury is not what anybody was hoping for entering year four for Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler, but his misfortune may help Will Hardy gather some answers about the young core.
Second-year forward/center Kyle Filipowski is the best positional fit to soak up some of Kessler’s minutes. Still, his contribution on the court is nothing like that of the defensive-minded, paint-clogging Kessler.
RELATED: Who Steps Up With Walker Kessler Out For 2025-26 Season?
Are @UtahJazz fans allowed to enjoy wins again? 👀
Utah’s 4-7 start isn’t tank-worthy—and that’s okay.
Let the kids cook. Worry about the lottery later. 🍳🎯#takenote https://t.co/zYVuiJM8dt
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) November 13, 2025
The former Duke Blue Devil has one of the most promising offensive frontcourt skillsets in the league, but his physical limitations make him an unideal candidate to provide any paint protection. A liability on the perimeter against more athletic players, Filipowski is a true tweener on the defensive end.
Given the current roster, beyond some frontcourt minutes being opened up for anyone willing and able to step up, the most devastating aspect of Kessler’s injury is the on-court time it will cost Utah’s growing guards with an experienced, NBA rotation-level center on both ends.
Keyonte George, Isaiah Collier, and Walt Clayton Jr. will miss out on valuable pick-and-roll reps that won’t be as replicable with less talented players. The entire defense will suffer, leaving the incredibly young backcourt to figure out a complicated league of the world’s best players without a rim defender behind them.
For a franchise already headed toward a difficult season, Kessler’s loss will make Hardy’s job —and that of the front office —a little more difficult as the season progresses.
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Forward – Brice Sensabaugh (Ohio State, 2023)
21 years old | Year 3
Sensabaugh found himself in the doghouse after his porous defensive performances couldn’t overcome his offensive ability.
The former Buckeye played less than six minutes in a blowout loss at Phoenix before receiving a DNP – Coaches’ Decision in a win over Boston. He played seven seconds in a loss to Detroit before returning to play 23 minutes at Minnesota.
Sensabaugh is unlikely to ever be a defensive force, but his effort level has been noticeably better since returning to the lineup on November 7.
Brice Sensabaugh 16 PTS on 6 made field goals
He’s played great the last 2 nights, making a huge impact scoring the ball in limited minutes
Bench lineups need Brice, especially when he’s scoring like this pic.twitter.com/3VFiFXbcDg
— Jazz Lead (@JazzLead) November 12, 2025
He broke out of a shooting slump against slumping Indiana, helping lift the Jazz to their fourth win of the season with four threes and 16 points in 16 minutes.
Sensabaugh is averaging 8.4 points per game on 44 percent from the field and 31 percent from deep.
Guard – Keyonte George (Baylor, 2023)
21 years old | Year 3
Keyonte George has easily been the most prominent bright spot on the floor for Utah this season.
The former Baylor guard has increased his scoring by nearly 5 points per game from last season while improving efficiency. George has almost doubled his free-throw rate, averaging close to eight attempts per game this season while making better than 91 percent.
Keyonte George 27 PTS on 9/18 shooting vs the Timberwolves 👇 pic.twitter.com/fYlXk3bRxX
— Jazz Lead (@JazzLead) November 11, 2025
Perhaps the most promising development from George is his body language and ability to stay mentally engaged each night.
Last year, a turnover might cause the athletic guard to hang his head and delay his return to defense. Last night against the Pacers, George committed a turnover above the arc, but instead of delaying, he sprinted back to force a missed layup.
The sky is the limit for George as he proves himself as a building block for the Jazz moving forward.
George is averaging career-highs in points (21.5), rebounds (3.9), and assists (7.1), while solidifying himself as a leader on and off the court.
Forward – Taylor Hendricks (Central Florida, 2023)
21 years old | Year 3
The 6’9 power forward has gone through fits and starts this season as he works his way back from last year’s devastating leg injury.
Defensively, Hendricks’s lack of on-court experience has been evident, as opponents have taken advantage when he is out of position or slow to rotate.
Hendricks is averaging 4.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in nine games this season.
He missed the past two games with a right hamstring injury. With his long-term development in mind, it’s not surprising to see Hendricks miss occasional time this season. He’ll need to provide more consistent production once healthy if he expects a return to the rotation.
Wing – Cody Williams (Colorado, 2024)
20 years old | Year 2
Williams has been far from a consistent presence in Hardy’s rotations.
The 2024 first-round pick has been used as a break-in case of emergency defender when others weren’t living up to the standard. His offseason strength work is evident as Williams works to hold up against NBA-level opponents.
I don't think he'll stay in the rotation, and he hasn't doesn't do anything to help his case statistically, especially on offense, but I do think Cody Williams is playing better this season.
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) November 12, 2025
After DNP-Coaches’ Decisions in three of the past four games, the second-year wing got some first-quarter minutes on Tuesday night with the Indiana Pacers in town. Williams ended the night playing a season-high 18 minutes in a blowout win.
He has played six of 11 games this season and averages 3.2 points on 44 percent shooting.
Guard – Isaiah Collier (USC, 2024)
21 years old | Year 2
The second-year guard worked his way back from a hamstring injury suffered before training camp and has given Hardy another option along an incredibly young and inexperienced guard line.
Collier’s explosiveness helped the Jazz weather Indiana’s breakneck pace, allowing him to record his first double-double of the season.
He ended the night with 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting, 11 assists, and six rebounds for his best performance this year.
It’s a small sample size, but the Jazz have had a big increase in 3PT shot frequency (+8.6%) with Isaiah Collier on the floor this season, especially from the corners (+7.2%)
His vision and ability to get downhill will be very important for Utah’s offense moving forward pic.twitter.com/VUOraJtJaW
— Eric Spyropoulos (@EricSpyroNBA) November 12, 2025
Collier is averaging 9.7 points, three rebounds, and seven assists in three games. In a small sample size, the USC product is shooting 64.7 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range.
It’s difficult to judge anything from Collier just yet, but the early returns are encouraging. Concern about a hamstring injury sapping his lightning-quick first step has been alleviated as he eases back into a rotation role.
George has established himself as the unquestioned starter, but Collier is showing the Jazz have growing depth in the backcourt.
Forward/Center – Kyle Filipowski
21 years old | Year 2
Similar to Brice Sensabaugh, Filipwoski’s minutes were inconsistent early in the season as Will Hardy stressed defense. He never fell out of the lineup completely, but did play only 10 minutes in a blowout loss to Phoenix, while Hardy used the game to set an example for several players.
Filipowski has not returned to the starting lineup since that game.
For better or worse, the Walker Kessler loss opens plenty of minutes for the second-year big man if he can capitalize on the chance.
Worth noting, Kyle Filipowski is the only Jazz player with more than 200 minutes played and a positive +/- for the season.
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) November 12, 2025
He played his best game of the season against Indiana, finishing with 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in 20 minutes off the bench.
Filipowski is averaging 7.7 points, five rebounds, and 2.4 assists this season.
Wing – Ace Bailey (Rutgers, 2025)
19 years old | Rookie
Bailey continues to grow by leaps and bounds every game. Though still inconsistent on both ends and the victim of individual plus/minus numbers, the No. 5 pick in the 2025 draft shows every night why his development is critical to Utah’s ascension back into the top tier of NBA contenders.
The talented wing made the first two starts of his career this week and did nothing but delight Jazz fans with his potential in increased playing time.
RELATED: Ace Bailey Delights Delta Center Crowd With New Career-High
the rook broke out and scored his first 20-piece of his young career, including four buckets from deep! 🔥#PlayerHighlights presented by @ZionsBank pic.twitter.com/O3CP9XFoss
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) November 12, 2025
The Rutgers product has reached double-figure scoring in three straight games, including a career-high 20 points in a win over Indiana.
With his length, Bailey has an innate ability to get his shot off. His shot-making ability is elite, and once his long-range shooting comes around, Bailey made four threes against the Pacers; he should quickly establish himself as one of the most lethal young scorers in the league.
Bailey shows good spacing awareness on the offensive end, and his passing has surpassed most expectations coming into the season.
The rookie is averaging 7.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, 38.3 percent from the field.
Guard – Walt Clayton Jr. (Florida, 2025)
22 years old | Rookie
A national champion last season at Florida, Clayton Jr. has been everything the Jazz could have hoped for with a mid-first-round pick.
The 6’2 guard has knocked down ten threes this season while showing a willingness to pull the trigger from long range in a way the Jazz haven’t had since probably Donovan Mitchell.
Will Hardy talked about Walt Clayton Jr.’s approach to the game, his ability to adjust quickly on the floor, and his competitive streak. #TakeNote | @kslsports pic.twitter.com/TxEHISskIG
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) October 13, 2025
Isaiah Collier’s return to the lineup may have slightly reduced Clayton Jr.’s minutes, but his competitive effort and contribution haven’t wavered in a different role.
He is averaging 6.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 16.2 minutes a night.
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The Jazz welcome former head coach Quin Snyder and the Atlanta Hawks to Salt Lake City on Thursday, November 13. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. MT.
All Jazz games will be broadcast live on the KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM). Occasionally, KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM / 1160 AM) also airs Jazz games.
Utah Jazz fans can watch the team’s games next season for free over the air on KJZZ TV and can stream the games through a paid streaming-based platform on the team’s website. KJZZ is currently broadcast on channel 14.1.
Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10- 12 p.m. with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
