Walker Kessler Not Focused On Contract After Shoulder Injury

After failing to reach a contract agreement with the team over the summer, the fourth-year big man underwent season-ending surgery just five games into the 2025-26 campaign. The setback robbed him of any extended chance to prove his worth.

Despite the misfortune, Kessler remains positive as he works through rehab.

Injury Limited Walker Kessler’s Potential

Kessler opened his fourth season in Utah playing the best basketball of his career.

He averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists while shooting 70 percent from the floor and hitting 3-of-4 from three-point range early in the year.

Despite the hot start, Kessler realized a lingering posterior labrum tear in his left shoulder wasn’t improving, even after missing most of training camp to rehab it.

 

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The injury first occurred during his sophomore season in college and never fully healed.

“The more it subluxes and stuff, the more just all those tendons get stretched out, and regardless of what strengthening you do, especially with the posterior, there’s no amount of strength that will keep it from slipping out again and again,” Kessler said.

Though the injury wasn’t particularly painful, it limited the 24-year-old’s range of motion, especially when blocking shots or reaching for rebounds.

“I still was going for them, obviously,” Kessler said, “but there was just some times where I couldn’t do those certain movements.”

How the Injury Could Affect His Contract

Kessler admitted he was frustrated after failing to secure a contract extension over the summer, but he stayed optimistic about his future.

“My feelings obviously haven’t really changed,” Kessler said. “It was frustrating at first, but I think everything happens for a reason. So I’m just going to focus on my rehab right now and attack the rehab with the best intensity I can.”

The Jazz chose to let Kessler hit restricted free agency in summer 2026 rather than sign him to an extension at the first possible opportunity.

ARE YOU SERIOUS, WALKER KESSLER ⁉️

Triple… Block… Touchdown. pic.twitter.com/SGEY5W2OJj

— NBA (@NBA) October 17, 2025

By waiting, the team gains payroll flexibility to improve the roster, and can exceed the salary cap to keep Kessler on a long-term deal.

The Jazz could still reward him with a significant contract next summer, though other teams may hesitate to pursue the Georgia native after a major injury.

The team also risks hurting their relationship with Kessler, which could push him to look elsewhere.

“I’m just going to focus on my rehab right now and attack the rehab with the best intensity I can,” Kessler said. “That’s all I’m going to focus on right now, and being the best teammate that I can.”

Jazz Plan to Keep Kessler Connected

Although Kessler won’t return to the floor this season, the Jazz hope to have him travel with the team once his rehab allows.

He has attended all home games, but traveling poses challenges.

“We have to get his rehab kind of off the ground. Doing rehab on the road is harder, it just is,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “So once Walker is at the right moment, we of course want him to travel.”

 

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Last season, second-year forward Taylor Hendricks suffered a season-ending injury three games into the year but rejoined the team on the road by January. While the injuries differ in severity, the goal remains the same.

“We want him a part of the team,” Hardy added. “We don’t want him disconnected from everybody else.”

Kessler doesn’t have a specific target date for full recovery, but he hopes to return early in the offseason.

“To have that knocked out of the way, and to be fully ready—I mean—I’m going to be ready next year, and I’m really, really looking forward to it,” Kessler said.

The Jazz’s regular season runs through April. They can begin negotiating an extension with Kessler the day after the NBA Finals end.