Utah Jazz executive returns to work after kidney transplant
General manager Justin Zanik had a kidney transplant in April.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz general manager Justin Zanik makes a comment during a news conference on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023.
After nearly two months of recovering from a serious surgery, Utah Jazz executive Justin Zanik is back on the sidelines.
Zanik, the team’s general manager, revealed in April that he was suffering from polycystic kidney disease and needed a kidney transplant after a physical revealed he had only 14% function. On Friday, the Jazz’s X account showed video of him walking in the practice facility and wearing a face mask.
“Good to have GM Justin Zanik back at the office,” the post read.
A Jazz spokesperson said it was always Zanik’s goal to return to work after the NBA Combine, which ended last week. He spent three days in the hospital, and took a leave of absence from the team after that.
The kidney Zanik received came by way of a paired exchange program where someone living donates theirs to those in need. Zanik didn’t know who the kidney came from, and the donor didn’t know where it went.
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