Walker Kessler wows the Lakers in his debut

Walker Kessler needed only 16 minutes to leave a good impression in his preseason debut with the Los Angeles Lakers. The center, one of the franchise's major bets to strengthen their interior game, completed a convincing performance against the Golden State Warriors, despite his team's loss by 101-89.

The interior player finished with 11 points, nine rebounds, one block, and one steal, with four baskets made from six attempts. These numbers are even more valuable considering that he hadn't played an NBA game for 347 days and only participated in the first half of the match.

“It has been very fun to play again. It's been such a long time. Before the game, I was quite nervous, to be honest, but going out on the court and playing with my teammates was wonderful,” Kessler acknowledged after the game.

A million-dollar investment that starts to show positive signs

The Lakers made a strong commitment to the 25-year-old center last summer. The operation to bring him in through a sign-and-trade agreement included a four-year contract worth 130 million dollars, along with two future unprotected first-round draft picks and two pick swaps.

The Los Angeles franchise hopes Kessler becomes a fundamental piece of their interior game, especially for his ability to protect the rim, dominate the boards, and create space for his teammates. His debut against Golden State offered reasons for optimism, although there is still work to be done before the start of the regular season.

The center's return had been delayed due to two physical setbacks. Kessler hadn't played an official game since October 31 of the previous season when he was still wearing the Utah Jazz jersey. In November, he had to undergo surgery to repair a tear of the left shoulder labrum, an injury that ended his season.

During the early days of the Lakers' training camp, the center suffered another mishap by hitting his left pinky against the backboard while trying to block a shot. The issue prevented him from participating in the first three preseason games, although the player explained that his absence was due to precautionary reasons.

He will now have the opportunity to play in two more preparation games, including the one on Friday at home against the Denver Nuggets, before the regular season starts, scheduled for October 22 against the Warriors.

JJ Redick shows him the way: be relentless

The Lakers' coach, JJ Redick, quickly highlighted the virtues of his new center. The coach particularly valued his ability to run the court, fight for rebounds in difficult situations, and protect the rim.

“I think he fits in very well with our team,” Redick explained, satisfied with what he had seen during the first half. However, the coach is also clear about what he wants from Kessler throughout the season: constant intensity on both ends of the court.

The word chosen to define that objective is relentless, which can be translated as “relentless” or “tireless.” Redick wants the center to run, block, drive to the rim, and fight for every rebound without conceding breaks during possessions.

Kessler has embraced the message as one of his main objectives for the season. “JJ and I talked and came to the conclusion that this would be our word for the year: relentless. For me, it means fighting for every rebound, trying to be a presence in the paint, playing hard, and not switching off in any possession, neither on offense nor defense,” he explained.

This profile could be especially important for a Lakers team that needs to leverage the virtues of its main playmakers. Kessler's ability to finish near the rim and force opposing defenses to collapse can open up space for outside shooters.

Austin Reaves explains why his impact goes beyond the numbers

One of the most interesting aspects of Kessler's debut was precisely his influence on offense. Austin Reaves, the leading scorer for the Lakers against Golden State with 28 points and seven assists, noted that the center's movements near the rim helped generate opportunities from the perimeter.

Sandro Mamukelashvili, who finished with 10 points and seven rebounds, also praised the physical presence and intimidating ability of the Lakers' new player. The interior player highlighted his toughness and defensive impact, while also being convinced that he can still improve.

The collective statistics from the game also reflected the contrast between Kessler's minutes and the rest of the match. During the 16 minutes he was on the court, the Lakers outscored Golden State by 15 points. In the remaining 32 minutes, the Warriors executed a favorable scoring run of 27 points.

Offensive problems emerge again without their main ball handlers

The loss for Los Angeles also exposed some difficulties that Redick will need to resolve before the competition begins. The Lakers faced the game without five players: Luka Doncic rested, while Cameron Carr, Ziaire Williams, Adou Thiero, and Collin Sexton were sidelined for various physical issues.

With Kessler already on the bench during the second half, the Los Angeles team was outscored 51-26 and committed 18 turnovers. Bronny James, Chris Manon, and Jaden Hardy were among the players who lost the most balls, with four, three, and two, respectively.

Redick acknowledged that the team still needs to improve in handling the pressure from opposing defenses, especially when some of their main ball handlers are missing. The coach admitted that the second half was far from the offensive level he expects from his players and noted that he will also analyze what he can do better from the bench.

The loss, therefore, left two different takeaways. The collective issues highlighted that the Lakers still have aspects to correct, but Kessler's debut was positive news for a franchise that has made a significant investment to strengthen its interior game.

After almost a year without competing, the center has begun to justify the expectations with a solid performance and a presence that his teammates have already highlighted. His next challenge will be to maintain that physical and defensive level, gain continuity in the preseason, and prove he can become one of the cornerstones of the Lakers' project.