Vince Williams Jr
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Vince Williams Jr got the start in the loss Wednesday night.
The Utah Jazz feared that their recent trade pickup, Vince Williams Jr., suffered a torn ACL after their February 23 matchup against the Houston Rockets.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, that’s indeed the case.
Following tests on Tuesday, February 24, Williams has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025-2026 NBA season.
A Crushing Blow For The Utah Jazz
via Shams Charania, ESPN: “Utah Jazz guard Vince Williams Jr. has been diagnosed with a season-ending torn left ACL, sources tell ESPN. Williams sustained the injury in a collision with Tari Eason in Houston on Monday night.”
Williams, 25, recently joined the Jazz in early February. At the 2026 NBA trade deadline, he was moved to the Jazz from the Memphis Grizzlies. Included in the trade from Memphis were Jaren Jackson Jr., Jock Landale, and John Konchar.
In return, the Grizzlies landed Kyle Anderson, Walter Clayton Jr., Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang, and draft assets.
Williams now becomes the second player in the trade to undergo surgery on the Jazz’s side. After a couple of appearances for the Jazz, ex-Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. was diagnosed with PVNS in his left knee.
With Jackson getting surgery to remove the growth, the veteran forward was placed on a four-week recovery timeline. Considering the state of the Jazz, there is a growing expectation that Jackson could miss the remainder of the season.
This season, the Jazz have shown promise, but they aren’t competitive enough for the postseason. As they struggle through the year, the Jazz anticipate a turnaround for next season.
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At the time of Williams’ setback, the Jazz are 18-40. They rank 13th in the Western Conference. Since joining the team, Williams has averaged 4.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, while shooting 35 percent from the field.
While Williams wasn’t going to move the needle for Utah this year, he’s staring at a long recovery. There’s a slim chance he’ll be ready in time for the start of the 2026-2027 NBA season.
The Jazz Have A Decision To Make
Jordan Walsh defending
GettyVince Williams Jr. has been diagnosed with a season-ending injury.
Williams is currently playing on a $9.1 million contract he inked with the Grizzlies.
After this season, the Jazz will decide on Williams’ future with the team, holding a club option for 2026-2027. If the Jazz want to bring Williams back, it would cost $2.4 million. If not, he would become a free agent in July. The Jazz have until June 29 to decide.
Williams has been in the NBA since 2022. After getting drafted in the second round, he spent four seasons with the Grizzlies.
After struggling to carve out a role as a rookie, Williams became a full-time player in 2023-2024. He averaged 10.0 points and 5.6 rebounds as a sophomore.
Ultimately, Williams left Memphis with averages of 7.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. He played in 128 games, collecting 51 starts.
Following a 125-105 loss against the Houston Rockets on February 23, the Jazz are set to return to the court on Thursday, February 26, to take on the New Orleans Pelicans for two-straight matchups.