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SALT LAKE CITY — Walker Kessler's rookie season is reportedly over.
The Utah Jazz center took an elbow to the head from teammate Talen Horton-Tucker as he went for a rebound during Sunday's loss in Brooklyn — a friendly-fire incident that is likely to keep him out for the rest of the season (at least the regular season).
Kessler entered concussion protocol on Monday, and that's expected to keep him out for Utah's last four games of the regular season.
The NBA's concussion protocol says player cannot return until he is without concussion symptoms at rest, has been evaluated by a physician, has passed the league's return-to-exertion protocols and has had his team physician consult the director of the NBA's concussion program.
Usually, this takes around 7-10 days. The Jazz wrap up their season on Sunday afternoon against the Los Angeles Lakers.
"He'll get reevaluated tomorrow after getting hit in the face or the side of the head with an elbow," Jazz coach Will Hardy said on Sunday after the game. "Kind of a weird play on a rebound, but the docs looked at him tonight and didn't want him to come back in the game."
Kessler, the No. 22 pick in the 2022 draft, has averaged 9.2 points and 8.4 rebounds this season and has been one of the best players in his draft class. Kessler shot a league-leading 72% from the field this season (most have been dunks and layups, but he memorably made one 3-pointer in Utah's first set out of the All-Star break), and his 173 total blocks ranks fourth in the NBA.
Since entering the starting lineup for good in early January, Kessler has averaged 11.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.9 blocks.
Kessler came to Utah as part of the Rudy Gobert trade, and the Jazz now see him as a near heir apparent to the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Utah believes Kessler is someone it can build a top-tier defense around in the future, and he's provided plenty of reasons to think that's coming sooner rather than later.
Kessler has had 11 games of five or more blocks, and has been a rare rookie that actually helps a team's defensive numbers.
Kessler is expected to be named to the All-Rookie team after the season.
