Walker Kessler ☆ Follow

Starts 3 of 3 games · 3rd on LAL in minutes · Core role

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• X Khobi Price (@khobi_price) · Report · 11 h ago

  Lakers’ challenge on that out of bounds call that went in favor of the Jazz is not only unsuccessful, but also turns into Walker Kessler’s first foul of the game (ruled approximate foul after review).

  original post ↗

  also reported by KG Certified host, The Herd with Colin Cowherd host

• Podcast Numbers on the Board host · Report · 38 h ago around the league

  Lakers: through two games Walker Kessler is averaging about 24 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks on 84% shooting, mostly finishing around the rim off Luka and Reaves.

  “20 Things We Have Learned So Far | Numbers On The Board” at 49:00 · listen ↗

• Podcast The Athletic NBA Daily host · Report · 43 h ago around the league

  Walker Kessler shot 12-of-12 for the Lakers in their win over the Warriors.

  “Sixers Thrive + Jamal Murray down bad? | Slam N Jam” at 8:58 · listen ↗

  also reported by Law Murray (@LawMurrayTheNU), Gil's Arena, Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater), Charlie Walter, Locked On Warriors

• Podcast Hardwood Knocks · 2 points · 47 h ago
  • Against Golden State, Walker Kessler (now on the Lakers) made a difference on defense and had many dunks; a chat question referred to 10. Austin Reaves had about five first-half shots and still finished with 20-something. Both hosts sell the Luka/Reaves/Kessler group as a top-three trio. at 1:08:52
  • The hosts say Keyonte George has one year left on his rookie scale, and they reference his extension figure when weighing whether Utah could have afforded to keep Kessler. at 1:39:53

  “The 2026-27 NBA Overreactions Draft!” · listen ↗

• Podcast Andy Kamenetsky (Locked On Lakers) (reported), via Locked On NBA · Relayed report · Oct 24 around the league

  The Lakers beat the Clippers 125-117 and are 2-0. Luka Doncic had 23 points on 8-of-21 with a career-high 11 turnovers. Austin Reaves had 28 points and 9 assists. Walker Kessler had 22 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 6 blocks. The Lakers forced 26 turnovers.

  “BEST NBA NIGHT EVER! YOU HAD TO BE THERE!” at 30:18 · listen ↗

• Story ESPN · Article · Oct 24

  Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler lead Lakers past Clippers 125-117 for 2nd win to start season

  source ↗

• Podcast KG Certified host · Analysis · Oct 24 around the league

  Hosts call Walker Kessler a lob threat and shot blocker for Luka. They say his debut should not be expected every night.

  “Ant & LaMelo Look Dangerous, LeBron Takes On Embiid and KG Believes in Luka’s Lakers | KG CERTIFIED” at 42:02 · listen ↗

• X Law Murray (@LawMurrayTheNU) · Report · Oct 23

  Some matchup items for Clippers at Los Angeles Friday night The Clippers have a starting center who is only slightly taller than Draymond Green, and a backup center who is only slightly younger than Al Horford. All eyes should be on a Walker Kessler encore, especially since he

  original post ↗

• Podcast The Mismatch host · Report · Oct 23 around the league

  Walker Kessler, now playing alongside Luka and Austin Reaves, went 'like 12 for 12', all roll-catch-dunk. The host praised this as the ideal role for a big next to those creators.

  “The Return of Loves and Loathes. Plus: A Historic Thursday Night.” at 17:04 · listen ↗

• Podcast Gil's Arena host · Prediction · Oct 23 around the league

  Panel view on Walker Kessler: he may shoot 70-80% from the field on dunks and layups with the Lakers' guards, and he's very good defending the pick-and-roll and anchoring the interior. One panelist says he could be a fringe All-Star if the team keeps winning.

  “Sixers Erase A MASSIVE 29-Point Deficit, SGA Ends His Streak & Jaylen Brown Calls CAP On Tatum! Part 1” at 53:45 · listen ↗

  also reported by Brian Kamenetzky, Locked On Lakers

• Podcast Locked On Lakers · 18 points · Oct 23
  • Andy Kamenetzky: Kessler shot 2 of 4 from the free-throw line, which left his true shooting percentage at about 94.5% instead of 100%. at 2:31
  • Andy Kamenetzky: Kessler's 12 of 12 was the best field-goal percentage by a Laker with at least 12 attempts since Wilt Chamberlain went 14 for 14 in 1969. at 2:59
  • Andy Kamenetzky: Kessler's 10 dunks were the most by any Laker in a game since Shaq in 2003. at 3:18
  • Shaquille O'Neal (reported): Shaquille O'Neal called Kessler the best big man in the NBA after the game. The host said that 'may be a little too much' but was still high praise. at 1:39
  • The host expects Kessler's true shooting percentage to come down from about 94 over the rest of the year. at 4:51
  • The host doubts the opener is what Kessler will look like every night, because the Lakers will not face teams that small and that bad every night. at 5:43
  • The host says Friday's game against the Clippers does not look like a big test for Kessler on paper, because the Clippers are neither very good nor very big. at 5:54
  • The host says Kessler will not be a low-post option. He will be set up by Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Collin Sexton. at 8:29
  • Brian Kamenetzky: In the opener, Kessler often scored as the roll man in pick-and-rolls, either on one dribble or with no dribble. at 13:42
  • Brian Kamenetzky: The host predicts most of Kessler's baskets will be dunks or near-dunks. They will come from lobs from Luka Doncic and from putbacks after Luka or Austin Reaves draw defenders. at 13:25
  • A host says Kessler already has synergy with Collin Sexton. They played together for a few years in Utah and are very close off the court. at 14:24
  • That led the Lakers and was the most of any player in the Lakers-Warriors game. at 15:24
  • As of Thursday afternoon, Kessler was fifth among centers in total distance run. The four centers ahead of him all played more minutes. at 15:46
  • The host expects Kessler to take a couple of threes this year, but says threes will not be a regular part of the Lakers' offense. Both hosts agreed they should not be. at 16:34
  • On defense, Kessler will mostly stay near the basket because that is what the Lakers want. He will come out to the perimeter on cross-matches or in transition. at 17:50
  • Brian Kamenetzky: The host says the Lakers must keep Kessler healthy and fresh and do well in the minutes he sits. That makes backup center a large short-term roster priority. at 18:12
  • The host argues that Luka Doncic makes every center he plays with look better, so Kessler will be made to look elite. at 23:40
  • The host saw nothing fluky in Kessler's game. He says the formula for what is asked of Kessler was established in the opener, and he is optimistic it will broadly continue. at 18:40

  “Why Walker Kessler's Debut Should be a Sign of Things to Come” · listen ↗

• Podcast First Take host · Report · Oct 23 wording unclear in audio around the league

  Luka's team Luka Doncic won that game, and Walker Kessler dunked ten times.

  “Hour 1: How dangerous does Caleb Williams make the Bears?” at 40:22 · listen ↗

• Podcast Gil's Arena · 5 points · Oct 23
  • The Lakers got Walker Kessler in a trade with the Jazz. A host says they gave up a lot of assets for him. at 7:39
  • In his Lakers debut vs the Warriors, Kessler scored 26 points on 12-for-12 shooting, with 9 rebounds and 10 dunks. at 7:05
  • Host analysis: Kessler rolls every time instead of popping. His lob threat makes Luka's job easy coming off the pick-and-roll against drop coverage, and it pulls weak-side and corner defenders over. at 13:26
  • Host analysis: Kessler's impact in the paint will leave the Lakers' three-point shooters more wide open. at 14:15
  • A host thinks the Lakers play way too slow, and that Kessler himself is slow. Others push back, saying Luka has always played slow and the roster has enough athleticism. at 14:36

  “Luka's Snowtime Lakers COOK GSW, Ant-Man & Lamelo WENT CRAZY vs MIA & AD Goes VINTAGE In D.C.! Part2” · listen ↗

• Podcast Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective · 3 points · Oct 23
  • Host analysis: the Lakers clearly drilled Kessler to keep running to the rim, cutting and sitting in the dunker spot, especially when Luka is on the move. Pulling the opposing big onto Kessler opens the lane for Luka. at 11:52
  • Host analysis: the Lakers paid a lot for Kessler because a team needs a big man to compete in the West, and because Luka had been asking for a legit big. at 31:12
  • Yaxel Lendeborg was at least partly responsible for some of Kessler's lobs, a host thinks. The host says his help defense has been bad since he arrived, and that he has rated his own defense C/C-minus. at 10:27

  “Luka Gets Called Out As Lakers Dominate + Who Made A Game 1 Statement?” · listen ↗

• Podcast The Athletic NBA Daily host · Analysis · Oct 23 wording unclear in audio around the league

  Utah is not currently 'having' Nurkic, and the host says losing Walker Kessler 'killed them'. Host says Peterson and George need a screener.

  “The Thunder Are Inevitable + Philly Trusts the Process” at 24:53 · listen ↗

• Podcast Charlie Walter, Locked On Warriors · Analysis · Oct 23 around the league

  Host analysis: the Warriors' big problem is that they have no bigs. Lakers big Walker Kessler went 12-for-12 for 26 points against them.

  “Golden State Warriors Need Strong Weekend To Avoid A Real Spiral” at 2:43 · listen ↗

• Podcast Andy Kamenetzky, Locked On Lakers · Analysis · Oct 23

  Andy's analysis: against better defensive teams, starting Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle, who are not dynamic offensive players, puts too much on Luka, Austin and Kessler's scoring and limits the offense.

  “Could Collin Sexton's Return Mean a Starting Lineup Change? Plus Is a 6-0 Start Coming for Lakers?” at 17:10 · listen ↗

• Podcast First Take · 6 points · Oct 22
  • The guest said Kessler had 10 dunks in the game. at 1:48
  • Luka Doncic (reported): The guest relayed that Luka Doncic asked for a big man who could play with him, and said that is why Doncic wanted Kessler. at 1:43
  • Guest analysis: much of the Lakers' paint scoring in past seasons came from LeBron James in transition. Kessler's lob threat for Doncic gives the team a different style. at 2:04
  • The guest called Kessler one of the NBA's best rim protectors and lob threats. She said he was overlooked because he was not available as much and was in Utah. at 8:09
  • Stephen A. called Kessler's 12-for-12 game 'an aberration' and more an indictment of the Warriors. He predicted it will not be seen often, and said he needs to see Kessler's rim protection to believe it. at 8:04
  • Stephen A. remarked that Kessler 'just got your bag from the Lakers'. This implies a new contract, but no terms were given. at 3:49

  “Hour 2: Are we more impressed with the Lakers or Timberwolves?” · listen ↗

• Podcast The Zach Lowe Show · 2 points · Oct 22
  • Zach Lowe: Walker Kessler went 12-of-12 for 26 points and 9 rebounds in about 30 minutes. The guest thinks four or five of Luka's seven assists went to Kessler. at 1:05:35
  • Zach Lowe: Lowe wouldn't be shocked if Kessler averaged 20 and 10. He expects Kessler to play a ton of minutes. at 1:09:58

  “Opening Night Overreactions, Alarming Trends, Hot Takes, and More!” · listen ↗

• Podcast The Herd with Colin Cowherd · 5 points · Oct 22
  • For context, the host says Kessler averages nine points a game for his career. at 5:33
  • A host or guest (unidentified) says Kessler didn't miss a shot in the opener and had 'like 10 dunks'. The count is hedged. at 16:06
  • The host calls Kessler the Lakers' first legitimate rim runner and rim protector, and says he is needed against Wembanyama. at 4:06
  • People criticized the Lakers for overpaying Kessler. The host has pushed back on that since day one and defends the signing. at 8:52
  • Kessler's injury history was raised during the offseason. The host notes Austin Reaves and Luka have also been injured, and calls it a very big question whether they can each play 70 games. No specific current injuries were named. at 6:15

  “THE HERD – HOUR 1 – LeBron and Lakers both won the divorce I Caleb Williams vs Drake Maye” · listen ↗

• Podcast First Take host · Analysis · Oct 22 around the league

  Walker Kessler had 10 dunks. The analyst praised his chemistry with Luka and said the Lakers' defense, seen as their biggest question mark, looked fundamental with a real rim protector.

  “Hour 1: Does LaMelo Ball unlock an MVP year for Anthony Edwards?” at 33:20 · listen ↗

• Podcast Get Up host · Analysis · Oct 22 around the league

  The hosts said Kessler had not played since last October because he was coming back from injury. They called this game his debut alongside Luka Doncic.

  “Hour 2: Luka's Lakers, Fly or Fold, Hook 'Em” at 6:26 · listen ↗

• Podcast Get Up · 2 points · Oct 22
  • Walker Kessler led the Lakers with 26 points on 12-of-12 shooting. The hosts said he was the first Laker to go 12-of-12 from the field since Wilt in '69. at 3:28
  • A host pointed to Walker Kessler's behind-the-back pass as a sign of chemistry with Luka in Los Angeles, saying this is why Luka called his number. at 3:17

  “Hour 1: Hollywood Heat, The McCarthy Era, Lamar Limbo” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On NBA host · Report · Oct 22 around the league

  Walker Kessler went 12-for-12 against the Warriors, 'literally just dunking everything'.

  “Timberwolves SCARY Backcourt & Warriors Disastrous Start” at 27:17 · listen ↗

  also reported by RotoWire

• Podcast Numbers on the Board host · Analysis · Oct 22 around the league

  Lakers frontcourt depth: hosts say that beyond Walker Kessler the bigs are Kevon Looney, and they ask whether the range is based on Kessler and the defense.

  “LIVE From Chicago! | Numbers On The Board” at 6:10 · listen ↗

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