Jazz F Jaren Jackson Jr. undergoes knee surgery

The recently acquired forward had a growth removed from his left knee and will be re-evaluated in 4 weeks.

Feb. 20, 2026 at 5:55pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Utah Jazz announced that forward Jaren Jackson Jr. had successful surgery to remove a growth in his left knee. The procedure was performed by the team's head orthopedic physician, Dr. Travis Maak, in Salt Lake City. Jackson, a two-time All-Star, was recently acquired by the Jazz in an eight-player trade with the Memphis Grizzlies on February 3rd.

Why it matters

Jackson is a key part of the Jazz's roster after the recent trade, so his health and recovery will be crucial for the team's performance going forward. The Jazz are hoping he can return to the court soon and continue his All-Star level of play.

The details

The growth that was removed was a localized pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) growth, which was discovered during a physical exam and MRI after the trade. Jackson will now begin rehabilitation and will be re-evaluated in four weeks to determine his timeline for return.

  • The surgery was performed on Tuesday, February 18, 2026.
  • Jackson will be re-evaluated in 4 weeks from the surgery date.

The players

Jaren Jackson Jr.

A 26-year-old forward who was recently traded from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Utah Jazz. He is a two-time NBA All-Star and the 2022-23 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Dr. Travis Maak

The head orthopedic physician for the Utah Jazz who performed the surgery on Jaren Jackson Jr.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This surgery is an important step for Jaren Jackson Jr. and the Utah Jazz as they look to integrate the star forward into their lineup and make a push for the playoffs. His recovery and return to the court will be closely monitored by the team and fans alike.