Walker Kessler addresses Utah Jazz fans: “I have always wanted to be here”
Jun 17, 2026, 9:25 PM | Updated: Jun 22, 2026, 10:15 am
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) looks on while talking about his contract situation during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News)
(Photo courtesy of Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Local and national media ran with a recent report that Walker Kessler and his camp turned down a five-year, $140 million extension from the Utah Jazz — and many had strong opinions about it.
Seeing the discourse branch off in every imaginable angle, Kessler took to social media to say his piece.
View this post on Instagram
An Instagram carousel with pictures of Kessler out in the Utah wilderness and with the Jazz was captioned:
I’ve seen what’s being said, and I want it to be clear that I have always wanted to be here — I love this city, these fans, my teammates, my coaches — that’s real to me. You don’t grow roots where you don’t want to be
Kessler’s contract situation has been an ongoing process for over a year now.
At media day before the 2025-26 season, Kessler was open and straightforward about his thoughts on not getting an extension after his third year.
I don’t want to talk about it after today. During the season, I don’t want it to be a dsitracter for me or my teammates. I am definitely a litte frustrated. Regardless, I love Utah, I love the fanbase, I love my teammates, I love my coaches. As long as I have a Utah Jazz jersey on, I will play winning basketball. And I want to.
Surgery for a torn labrum derailed Kessler’s fourth year, but he remained steadfast in his desire to stay with the Jazz.
Walker Kessler addresses Jazz fans on Instagram. 💜 pic.twitter.com/JXY5rD6rhu
— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) June 18, 2026
Report Surfaces Regarding Walker Kessler’s Restricted Free Agency
On Tuesday, ESPN NBA Insider Tim MacMahon was first to report on the Hoop Collective podcast that Kessler’s camp had turned down an offer in the ballpark of five years and $140 million. KSL Sports confirmed that report on Tuesday night.
That deal would place Kessler as one of the three highest-paid non-All-Star centers in the NBA. However, other reports said that Kessler’s camp was looking for “significantly more.” Rumors circulated that his camp was looking to be closer to $40 million per year.
Whether that is accurate or not, the whole debacle was blown out of proportion both by the media and by some fans. Kessler is not the first case of a messy restricted free agency negotiation, and he won’t be the last.
Considering NBA players are lucky to negotiate more than three contracts in their career, it is in the players’ best interest, and it’s the job of the players’ representation, to secure every dollar that they can. Even if his camp did ask to get closer to $40 million AAV, it was likely a negotiation tactic used in an attempt to raise Utah’s initial offer.
Good for Walker Kessler for taking it on himself to set the record straight.
There should be no frustration about agents trying to get their player more money, but it seems like the agents totally lost control of the message they were trying to relay.
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) June 18, 2026
The Jazz still hold exclusive negotiation rights until the league calendar resets on July 1. If a deal isn’t made by that point, Kessler will hit the market and can field offers from other teams. If he gets interest and a team outbids the Jazz, Utah will have the opportunity to match any offer.
Although the situation seems sticky right now, it is clear that Kessler loves Utah, and the front office would like to keep its big man at home.
