Jazz GM Justin Zanik Reveals Kidney Failure After First Physical Exam in 8 Years

Utah Jazz normal supervisor Justin Zanik revealed he is been coping with a critical well being situation …. admitting he was in kidney failure after he was identified with a illness that left solely 14% of the organ’s perform.

The 49-year-old went into detail in regards to the discovery on Monday … explaining his spouse, Gina, was involved that he appeared thinner and drained — so she begged him to get a bodily after lacking the final eight annual exams.

Zanik — who grew to become the NBA staff’s GM in 2019 — arrange an appointment with the Jazz doctor David Petron in September 2023 … and was advised he was in kidney failure.

The analysis is Polycystic Kidney Illness — an inherited dysfunction the place cysts develop on the kidneys inflicting them to work much less — and Dr. Petron mentioned Zanik solely had 14% of the kidney’s use left.

Zanik should get a transplant — one thing his father did 21 years in the past … and he discovered a match along with his spouse’s greatest good friend’s husband. The process will occur on Tuesday.

“I’m a fixer by nature. My job with the Jazz, my role with my family — I mean, I was a [player] agent for 15 years. I fixed a lot of s***. I’m the one who’s supposed to help,” Zanik mentioned.

“I’m the one who’s supposed to take care of everything. I really didn’t know how to ask for help, but I had to get over it. I knew I had to get over it.”

Zanik’s youngsters have been additionally identified with superior types of PKD … and have been advised that Ava, Oskar, and Lucy would wish transplants earlier than they have been 30 years outdated.

“We’re going to do this together,” Zanik mentioned. “We’re stronger together.”