nypost
The Los Angeles Lakers may have finally found their long-term answer at center. In a bold offseason move, the Lakers acquired 7-foot-1 center Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz via sign-and-trade, and the early returns have been nothing short of spectacular.
Kessler's arrival came at the urging of Luka Dončić, who reportedly advocated for the big man. General manager Rob Pelinka took a significant risk, surrendering two first-round picks and two pick swaps while signing Kessler to a four-year, $130 million contract. That gamble left the Lakers without tradable first-round picks for the next seven years, but so far, it appears to be paying off.
In his regular-season debut against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, Kessler put on a historic shooting display, going a perfect 12-for-12 from the field en route to 26 points, nine rebounds, one assist, and two blocks. He became the first Lakers player since Wilt Chamberlain to achieve a perfect 12-for-12 shooting night.
He followed that up on Friday with another stellar outing in a 125-117 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Kessler stuffed the stat sheet with 22 points on 10-for-14 shooting, eight rebounds, three assists, six blocked shots, and three steals. His plus-minus of +18 was the highest among all players on the court. According to Stathead, he also became the eighth Lakers player ever to record at least six blocks and three steals in a single game.
"He's a fantastic basketball player and I think he'll continue to get better," Lakers head coach JJ Redick said. "That was one of the reasons that we wanted him and he was so appealing to us—because of his age and feeling like the fit with our two stars was really good. And [he's] someone that can continue to grow and become just a fantastic player in the NBA."
Key Analysis
The Lakers' defense was a glaring weakness last season, ranking 20th in defensive efficiency. Kessler's shot-blocking and interior presence directly address that deficiency. His ability to protect the rim and alter shots was on full display in the third quarter against the Clippers, when he helped Los Angeles turn a 64-64 halftime tie into a 14-point lead.
"It just felt like Walker was everywhere in that third," Redick added. "There were multiple times [in the game] where it felt like they had a layup and he either came over and blocked the shot or created an altered shot."
Kessler's journey back to health after a torn left labrum that limited him to just five games last season raised questions about his durability and ceiling. But the 25-year-old is quickly silencing doubters. "Oh, it's so much fun," Kessler said of being back on the court. "It was definitely a tougher year for me. But God is faithful. And just to be here now, I'm just so thankful. So thankful for this opportunity. So thankful to be healthy. Just very, very thankful."
The Lakers need Kessler to evolve into an All-Defensive-caliber player and complete a Big Three alongside Dončić and Austin Reaves. So far, he's checking every box. His next test comes as the Lakers travel to Utah to face the Jazz—a return to the franchise where he spent his first four seasons. "I'm so excited to compete against those guys," Kessler said. "Coach [Will] Hardy does a great job with that franchise and my past teammates are really talented, really competitive. So I think it's going to be a very competitive game and I'm just excited to go compete."
For the Lakers, the early success of Kessler is a reminder of how far they've come—and a validation of a risky trade that could define their championship window.
Originally reported by nypost.