Latest Rumors on Jusuf Nurkic's Timeline to Return to Jazz from Nose Injury After Surgery Decision

The Utah Jazz reportedly will be without another key player for the remainder of the season.

NBA insider Chris Haynes reported on Monday that Jazz veteran center Jusuf Nurkic will undergo a surgical procedure on his nose on Tuesday that will sideline him for the rest of the 2025-26 campaign.

Nurkic is the third center the Jazz have lost this season. Fourth-year big Walker Kessler was off to the best start of his career before having to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery after just five games. Two-time All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr., who was acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies as part of an eight-player deal at the trade deadline earlier this month, underwent season-ending knee surgery just a week after his arrival in Utah.

In his first year with the Jazz this season, Nurkic played 41 games with 36 starts and averaged 10.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.3 steals. He shot 50.3 percent from the field, his highest mark since the 2023-24 campaign when he was with the Phoenix Suns.

At 18-39, the Jazz have one of the worst records in the NBA and are in the running for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft. Utah has already been fined $500,000 for alleged tanking tactics, and losing Nurkic for the year could push the team to continue focusing on its draft positioning down the stretch of this season.

With Nurkic on the shelf, second-year center Kyle Filipowski will likely take over as Utah's starter, with veteran Kevin Love backing him up. The Jazz will be in action on Monday night against the Houston Rockets (34-21).