Report: Jazz's Vince Williams Jr. suffers season-ending torn left ACL in collision with Rockets' Tari Eason
The Utah Jazz’s turbulent post-deadline stretch turned disastrous on Tuesday, as the team confirmed that guard Vince Williams Jr. has suffered a season-ending torn left ACL. The diagnosis, first reported by ESPN and confirmed via an MRI in Salt Lake City, serves as a crushing blow to a roster still attempting to find its identity following the blockbuster trade that brought Williams to Utah earlier this month.
The injury occurred during the second quarter of Monday’s 125-105 loss to the Houston Rockets. As Williams sprinted back in transition defense, he collided with Rockets forward Tari Eason, who appeared to deliver a hip-check while changing lanes on the fast break. Williams’ left leg buckled awkwardly beneath him as he tumbled out of bounds, requiring assistance to leave the floor. The sequence drew immediate ire from the Jazz bench, with head coach Will Hardy not mincing words in his postgame availability.
"That’s not basketball," Hardy told reporters, visibly frustrated by the non-call and the reckless nature of the contact.
Eason, who finished the play with a dunk while Williams lay on the sideline, reportedly visited the Jazz locker room immediately after the game to apologize. "I’ve known Vince for a little bit... I didn’t intend on doing anything," Eason stated, emphasizing that he was playing hard in a contract year and held no malicious intent.
For Utah, the loss is compounded by the context of Williams' arrival. Acquired on February 3 alongside All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. in a massive reshape of the franchise, Williams was viewed as a defensive cornerstone for the Jazz's future backcourt. In his six games with Utah, the 25-year-old averaged 4.7 points and 3.2 rebounds, struggling offensively but providing the grit the coaching staff coveted.
With Jaren Jackson Jr. also sidelined, Utah’s evaluation period for their new acquisitions has effectively ended before it truly began. Williams now faces a grueling rehabilitation process that will likely bleed into the 2026-27 campaign, leaving the Jazz front office with difficult decisions regarding his team option this summer.
The injury occurred during the second quarter of Monday’s 125-105 loss to the Houston Rockets. As Williams sprinted back in transition defense, he collided with Rockets forward Tari Eason, who appeared to deliver a hip-check while changing lanes on the fast break. Williams’ left leg buckled awkwardly beneath him as he tumbled out of bounds, requiring assistance to leave the floor. The sequence drew immediate ire from the Jazz bench, with head coach Will Hardy not mincing words in his postgame availability.
"That’s not basketball," Hardy told reporters, visibly frustrated by the non-call and the reckless nature of the contact.
Eason, who finished the play with a dunk while Williams lay on the sideline, reportedly visited the Jazz locker room immediately after the game to apologize. "I’ve known Vince for a little bit... I didn’t intend on doing anything," Eason stated, emphasizing that he was playing hard in a contract year and held no malicious intent.
For Utah, the loss is compounded by the context of Williams' arrival. Acquired on February 3 alongside All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. in a massive reshape of the franchise, Williams was viewed as a defensive cornerstone for the Jazz's future backcourt. In his six games with Utah, the 25-year-old averaged 4.7 points and 3.2 rebounds, struggling offensively but providing the grit the coaching staff coveted.
With Jaren Jackson Jr. also sidelined, Utah’s evaluation period for their new acquisitions has effectively ended before it truly began. Williams now faces a grueling rehabilitation process that will likely bleed into the 2026-27 campaign, leaving the Jazz front office with difficult decisions regarding his team option this summer.
