Walker Kessler
Oct 13, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Golden State Warriors center Charles Bassey (28) and Los Angeles Lakers center Walker Kessler (14) chase after the ball in the second quarter at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images
Walker Kessler was the biggest acquisition for the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason and after missing the team’s first three preseason games, his debut for the purple and gold was very much anticipated. But for Kessler it wasn’t just about his debut, but also getting back on the court for the first time in almost a year.
The big man was limited to just five games last season due to a torn labrum, with his last game coming on Halloween night last year. And just being on the court for a real game felt great for Kessler.
“It was a lot of fun being out there again. It’s been so long,” Kessler said. “Before the game, I was actually pretty nervous. But getting out there and just playing with the guys was a blast… I think I have a certain presence on the floor, but my teammates around me did a great job of playing defense on the perimeter and we shared the ball really well tonight in the first half. It was a lot of fun.”
Kessler also discussed what he missed most during his nearly year away from game action.
“I think what I missed most is competing, quite frankly. Competing to win,” he said.
When you miss that much time there is sure to be at least some level of eagerness to get back on the floor. That is multiplied when a player joins a new team and for Kessler to now be on the Lakers only adds to the amount of eyes on him when he finally suits up.
Thankfully, he showed exactly why the Lakers traded for him with an excellent debut for the purple and gold. Kessler nearly notched a double-double, finishing with 11 points, nine rebounds, one steal and one block in only 16 minutes as he didn’t play in the second half. And those defensive numbers don’t take into account the number of shots altered just from being in the right position.
The success of this Lakers’ team will hinge greatly on the play of Kessler. His ability to set screens and work the pick-and-roll with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, create extra possessions with his offensive rebounding and anchor the defense will be absolutely crucial.
There will be questions coming into the season, especially with how little he played last year, but just getting some real minutes was a great first step and he gave everyone plenty of reason to be excited.
Walker Kessler discusses his defensive role for Lakers
Kessler’s top priority for this Lakers team will be on the defensive end and in discussing his role on that side of the court, he compared it to being the linebacker in football.
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