Report: Jusuf Nurkic Out For Season After Nose Surgery
Feb 23, 2026, 2:16 PM
Jusuf Nurkić #30 of the Utah Jazz (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic will miss the rest of the season as he prepares for nose surgery.
Chris Haynes of NBA on Prime first reported the news on Monday on social media.
“Utah Jazz starting center Jusuf Nurkić will undergo a surgical procedure on his nose Wednesday that will sideline him for the remainder of the season, league sources tell me,” Haynes reported.
BREAKING: Utah Jazz starting center Jusuf Nurkić will undergo a surgical procedure on his nose Wednesday that will sideline him for the remainder of the season, league sources tell me. pic.twitter.com/MFYjY333GU
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 23, 2026
Jusuf Nurkic Out For Remainder Of The Season
Nurkic will sit out after a productive 41-game run in Utah, where he landed after an offseason trade that sent Collin Sexton to the Charlotte Hornets.
The Bosnian center averaged 10.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists while shooting 50 percent from the field and 35 percent from three. In January, he became the first player in Jazz history to record triple-doubles in three straight games, doing so against Minnesota, San Antonio, and Miami.
I did not understand the Collin Sexton/Jusuf Nurkic trade over the summer, but Nurk has proven to be very valuable on and off the court for the @utahjazz.
He was very complimentary of the team’s culture, his teammates, and the FO after Tuesday’s loss. pic.twitter.com/sDM2TWVD1j
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 1, 2026
He rebuilt his league-wide value following a difficult two-year stretch split between Phoenix and Charlotte.
Nurkic will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
How Nurkic’s Injury Affects the Jazz
Nurkic’s loss further depletes Utah’s frontcourt, already missing Walker Kessler and Jaren Jackson Jr., who are out for the season with shoulder and knee injuries.
The 31-year-old had absorbed significant minutes and filled in effectively with both players sidelined.
Flip’s hitting his flow state 🧘♂️ pic.twitter.com/4mszvpsOVq
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 21, 2026
Without him, the Jazz will likely lean on second-year big man Kyle Filipowski, who has made 20 starts while playing both frontcourt spots. Veteran Kevin Love is another option; the 37-year-old has played sparingly, appearing in just seven of the team’s last 18 games.
The Jazz also have an open roster spot, which they could use to sign another center for the remainder of the season or to cycle through players on 10-day contracts.
Next Utah Jazz Broadcast
The Jazz will travel to face the Houston Rockets on Monday at 7:30 p.m. MST. The game will be streamed on Peacock and heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone.
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Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.
