Walker Kessler

Defense is projected by many to be an area of weakness for the Los Angeles Lakers, specifically on the perimeter. While Walker Kessler can shore up a lot of those deficiencies with his elite rim protection, it is up to the wings to apply perimeter pressure and not solely rely on Kessler. Jake LaRavia specifically […]

The Lakers finally found their starting center in Walker Kessler, but concerns are already emerging about Kevon Looney behind him.

The Los Angeles Lakers brought in Walker Kessler this offseason to be their defensive anchor and the long-term center they have been searching for since trading Anthony Davis. Kessler was known as a defensive force during his time with the Utah Jazz, but he was also a fairly limited offensive player. Getting to play with […]

The first week of Lakers’ training camp has passed.  It has been a whirlwind of Purple-and-Gold-smeared optimism and excitement. Luka Doncic is ready to lead the Lakers back atop the league as the unequivocal head of the 17-time championship franchise. Austin Reaves wants to live up to his new four-year, $180 million contract. Walker Kessler is...

As Los Angeles Lakers fans anxiously await Walker Kessler’s debut, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon questions whether the 7-foot-2 center can help his team climb into championship contention in 2026-27. After the Lakers inked Kessler to a $130 million extension, it cemented their core alongside All-Star Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. However, Kessler will have to improve on […] The post Tim MacMahon’s Walker Kessler reason for pumping breaks on Lakers championship appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Much of the focus for the Los Angeles Lakers has been on all of the new faces the franchise added to the roster this offseason such as Walker Kessler and Quentin Grimes. But there are still a few returning players and one of the more interesting is veteran Jarred Vanderbilt. The defensive-minded forward is one […]

Prior to media day, Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick said he was “pretty confident” with three spots in his starting lineup. The other two? “The other two spots will not be two White guys,” Redick said. That’s one way to preview what should be a competitive Lakers training camp. Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler are all obvious starters. After that, nearly everything is up for grabs. The Lakers have less than three weeks to get their roster to a maximum of 15 standard contr...

This offseason was all about building the roster around superstar guard Luka Doncic and it is no secret that finding a big-time center to pair with him was a top priority. The Lakers feel they did just that with their acquisition of big man Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz. This wasn’t just a matter […]

The Lakers changed plenty this offseason. Walker Kessler already has an idea of what their new identity might be. Nasty. Defensively, anyway. Kessler came away from the Lakers’ first training camp practice feeling awfully good about what he saw, particularly from the team’s revamped group of defenders. “Listen, I think we’re gonna be a nasty […] The post Walker Kessler thinks new-look Lakers could be ‘nasty’ defensively appeared first on Hoops Wire.

Jake LaRavia is one of the few Lakers wings who survived the roster overhaul, which gives his read on the defense some weight. Asked how the group looks different beyond the addition of Walker Kessler, he did not hedge. “We got some problems this year,” LaRavia said in a press conference. “We got a lot […] The post Lakers’ Jake LaRavia sends bold warning about LA’s defense appeared first on ClutchPoints.

It’s safe to say Lakers head of basketball operations Rob Pelinka has a lot riding on this season. LeBron James is gone. New ownership will soon be settling in. Pelinka has reshaped the team around Luka Doncic. You can’t really question many of Pelinka’s moves this offseason. He landed Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, […] The post New-look Lakers put Rob Pelinka’s future under microscope appeared first on Hoops Wire.

Walker Kessler sounds willing to do all the little things for the Lakers

El Segundo, CA, - September 28, 2026: Los Angeles Lakers center Walker Kessler participates in the team's media day at the UCLA Health Training Center on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026 in El Segundo, CA. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Whether it’s been head coach JJ Redick or superstar point guard Luka Dončić, excitement surrounding Walker Kessler’s arrival with the revamped Los Angeles Lakers is palpable. Kessler himself relayed that excitement during Monday’s media day, expressi...

Austin Reaves was asked what he has learned from playing alongside Walker Kessler at Lakers practice on Wednesday. He began waxing poetic about Kessler’s care factor — before abruptly cutting himself off. Reaves lost his train of thought.  Something stunning caught his eye. He came to a full stop. He had to acknowledge it.  Los...

LOS ANGELES – Coming into training camp, Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick was sure of who three of his five starters were going to be. Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler will be in the starting lineup, with the other two spots up for grabs. New Lakers forward Sandro Mamukelashvili would appear […] The post Why Sandro Mamukelashvili relishes ‘connector’ role in Lakers debut season appeared first on ClutchPoints.

LOS ANGELES – Coming into training camp, there seems to be a general consensus that one of the Los Angeles Lakers’ main weaknesses is going to be defense, but don’t tell Walker Kessler that. The new Lakers big man was brought in to help anchor the defense, and during the early days of training camp […] The post Walker Kessler drops ‘nasty’ warning on Lakers’ perceived weakness appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Los Angeles Lakers center Walker Kessler is raring to return to action after missing all but five games last season due to a shoulder injury. A change of scenery with the Lakers could be the perfect opportunity for Kessler, who signed a 4-year, $130 million contract in July. The Lakers acquired him via a sign-and-trade […] The post Lakers’ JJ Redick reveals reason he’s most excited about Walker Kessler appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Apparently Luka Doncic and Walker Kessler didn’t need much of an introductory period. Just throw it up there. Kessler caught multiple lob passes from Doncic during the Lakers’ first training camp practice, providing an early glimpse at a combination Los Angeles hopes will become considerably more familiar this season, according to Lakers Nation. It doesn’t […] The post Luka Doncic, Walker Kessler apparently figured each other out pretty quickly appeared first on Hoops Wire.

The Los Angeles Lakers recently held their media day as they prepare for the upcoming season. The Lakers have several new faces in the mix, including newly acquired center Walker Kessler, whom the team signed and traded for from the Utah Jazz. However, the Lakers don’t exactly have a ton of frontcourt depth behind Kessler […] The post NBA rumors: ClutchPoints insider suggests Bulls center as intriguing Lakers 2-for-1 trade target appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Is it too early to get excited about Walker Kessler? We know that he’s an elite rebounder and rim protector. But so far, there’s something about him that just, well, feels like the type of thing that can really tip a franchise in the right direction. He’s a personality guy. Los Angeles Lakers center Walker...