Alex VejarAfter 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.
Alex is an expat from Los Angeles who started his journalism career in 2013 after attempting, and failing, to become the next great rock star. He most recently covered local sports in Chico.