The new look Los Angeles Lakers are off to a hot start, winning all three games in a decisive fashion. A major part of that has been their new center, Walker Kessler, who found a rhythm with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves incredibly quickly. He could be the difference maker in the Lakers winning it all.
Kessler was a first round draft pick for the Utah Jazz in 2022, where he played the first four seasons of his career and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. He was also a finalist for the Rookie of the Year Award, which ultimately went to Paolo Banchero in 2022-2023.
While Kessler has always been a good center, it's hard to show that on a bad team. Attempts to rebuild the Jazz into a contender have consistently fallen flat, leaving Kessler in the shadows. It didn't help that Kessler missed the majority of the 2025-2026 season thanks to shoulder surgery.
Then, the Lakers came knocking as they were looking for a big-time center to pair with Doncic. Given Kessler's recent health issues, many wondered if he was the man the Don needed to find the next level. Considering what Kessler has done so far, that seems to most assuredly be the case.
Walker Kessler is exceeding expectations for the Lakers
In the opening game, Kessler played a major part in stomping the Warriors with his 10 dunks and 26 points. He showed up against the Clippers, this time dishing out 22 points on offense alongside three steals and six blocks on defense. That doesn't count his 17 rebounds across two games.
For his third game as a Laker, he took on his former team on the road in Utah. By his own admission, Kessler was too emotional and excited and was really off his game. He did not play particularly well, but Doncic picked up the slack by dropping a savage 52-point double-double on the Jazz.
Overall, Kessler has proven himself to be the rim protector and lob threat that Doncic needs riding shotgun with him. He is the exact kind of center the Lakers have been looking for since trading Anthony Davis away for Doncic a couple of years ago. That hole at the five has held them back.
Kessler is by no means fully acclimated to being a Laker, particularly since he was by no means the only offseason change made to this roster. But if he can maintain this effort through the regular season and into the postseason, the Spurs and Thunder may not be Western Conference shoo-ins.
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