Will Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George suit up again this season?
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) slaps hands with guard Keyonte George (3) after Markkanen made a basket during a game against the Boston Celtics held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News This article was first published as the Jazz Insiders newsletter.
Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each Friday. A number of Utah Jazz players have already been ruled out for the rest of the 2025-26 season — Walker Kessler, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkić — but there are many wondering if they’ll see Lauri Markkanen or Keyonte George suit up again for the Jazz before the season is over.
Let’s start with Markkanen’s situation. Whether you believe the validity of Markkanen’s injury, the Jazz said that the forward would be out at least two weeks after announcing he had a hip impingement. Well, he’s been out more than three weeks since that injury and the Jazz said on Thursday that once again, Markkanen will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
That would take him to April 2. The Jazz would have five games remaining at that point, starting with a three-game road trip. After missing at least five weeks away from the court, it’s unlikely, even if he is cleared to play, that the Jazz would throw Markkanen into the lineup without a reconditioning ramp up of some sort.
So, I’d be willing to bet that Markkanen won’t be suiting up again this season. George’s case is not as easy to decipher. He left the March 11 game against the Knicks with a hamstring strain that has kept him out since then.