The Los Angeles Lakers have welcomed a significant addition to their roster this offseason with the acquisition of center Walker Kessler. His early performances have drawn positive attention, particularly from head coach JJ Redick.
Following a period of substantial changes, including LeBron James’ departure after eight years, Kessler’s fit as the new starting center has been particularly noteworthy. Standing over seven feet tall, he brings a formidable presence on both ends of the court.
Kessler has quickly integrated into the Lakers’ system, leveraging his skills alongside playmaker Luka Doncic. His offensive game has seen marked improvement, evidenced by his average of 24 points per game on an impressive shooting percentage of 84.6% over his first two games with the team. Defensively, Kessler has contributed 1.5 steals and four blocks per game.
Redick, who had previously observed Kessler’s capabilities during his time with the Utah Jazz, has praised the center’s potential. He highlighted Kessler’s youth as an asset, suggesting it aligns well with the team’s star players. “He’s a fantastic basketball player, and I think he’ll continue to get better. That was one of the reasons that we wanted him and he was so appealing to us because of his age,” Redick stated following the Lakers’ second game.
As Kessler, Doncic, and teammate Austin Reaves begin to build chemistry, the Lakers are emerging as a formidable contender in the Western Conference. Their performance in the season’s early games has underscored their potential to challenge for postseason success.
