Walker Kessler frustrated by lack of contract extension with the Jazz
The fourth-year center is disappointed that the Jazz are unwilling to agree to an extension prior to the season beginning
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Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) reacts 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. Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Sarah Todd covers the NBA and Utah Jazz for the Deseret News.
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The Utah Jazz held their annual media day Monday, with training camp set to kick off Tuesday morning.
Without a doubt, the most notable moment of the day came from fourth-year center Walker Kessler, who all-but confirmed that there hasn’t been any positive movement toward him getting an extension signed, and expressed disappointment with the team.
For context, Kessler is extension-eligible, but an extension needs to be signed by Oct. 20 (the day before the 2025-26 season begins). If an extension doesn’t get done by then, Kessler will become a restricted free agent at the end of the season. Sources close to the situation have told the Deseret News that an extension is unlikely to happen before the start of the season.
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Utah Jazz guard Ace Bailey (19) laughs while speaking with the media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) smiles while speaking to media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward John Tonje (17) looks on during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Walter Clayton Jr. (13) speaks with the media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Ace Bailey (19) speaks with the media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy looks on during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) speaks with media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Kevin Love (42) speaks to media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Kyle Anderson (2) looks on during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy speaks to media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Kevin Love (42) speaks to media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (8) speaks with media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Ace Bailey (19) speaks with the media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy speaks to media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) looks on during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Walter Clayton Jr. (13) speaks with the media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks (0) speaks to media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Elijah Harkless (16) looks on during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks (0) speaks to media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski (22) speaks with media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Ace Bailey (19) speaks with the media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) speaks to media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) speaks with media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) speaks with media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Austin Ainge, president of basketball operations, left, and Ryan Smith, chairman and CEO of Smith Entertainment Group and governor of the Utah Jazz, right, speak to media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Austin Ainge, president of basketball operations, speaks during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Austin Ainge, president of basketball operations, speaks during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) speaks with media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic (30) speaks to media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz center Oscar Tshiebwe (34) speaks with media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy speaks to media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Ryan Smith, chairman and CEO of Smith Entertainment Group and governor of the Utah Jazz, speaks during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) speaks with media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic (30) speaks to media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks (0) speaks to media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) speaks to media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Elijah Harkless (16) speaks with media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Georges Niang (31) speaks with media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz center Steven Crowl (25) looks on during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz center Oscar Tshiebwe (34) speaks with media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) speaks to media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Walter Clayton Jr. (13) speaks with the media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Matthew Murrell (15) looks on during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward John Tonje (17) looks on during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy speaks to media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz center Mo Bamba (4) speaks with the media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) speaks with media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Ace Bailey (19) speaks with media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Svi Mykhailiuk (10) looks on during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Georges Niang (31) speaks with media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Kyle Anderson (2) looks on during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz center Oscar Tshiebwe (34) speaks with media during the Utah Jazz media day at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Here is what Kessler said on Monday:
“I know today’s media day, so I was assuming I’d get a question like this. So I just want to say, I don’t want to talk about it after today, just because I think during the season — tomorrow’s training camp, it’s the start of the season — I don’t want it to be a distractor for me or for my teammates.
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“But, that being said, I’m definitely a little frustrated with how, you know, if I don’t ... but regardless, I love Utah. I love the fan base. I love my teammates, I love the coaches, and as long as I have a Utah Jazz jersey on, I will play winning basketball, and I want to, and I love it. And I think for as long as I’m here, I’m going to play winning basketball.”
The situation can be understood from both sides. Kessler has been one of the few bright spots over the last few years with the Jazz and has even garnered interest from other teams, who are impressed with his shot-blocking overall game. So, his team wants to lock down a long-term, lucrative contract.
On the other side, the Jazz want the cap space flexibility that waiting to sign Kessler will give them in 2026 and also will have the benefit of seeing how his fourth season plays out.
The question now is, will Kessler be able to separate his frustration with the decisions of the front office from his everyday life with the team?
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. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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