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Walker Kessler, after missing all of the Los Angeles Lakers’ first three preseason games, suited up for the first time during their Tuesday night clash against the Golden State Warriors. Kessler had been dealing with a finger injury, but head coach JJ Redick guaranteed earlier in exhibition season that their marquee offseason acquisition will be suiting up for some preseason reps — which he did on Tuesday.
Kessler did not waste much time making his presence felt on the court for a Lakers team that was playing without Luka Doncic on the night. He set a screen for Austin Reaves, who then veered away from that direction and went downhill. This then freed up Kessler on the roll, and their big free-agent signing took one power dribble to split two Warriors defenders, Charles Bassey and Yaxel Lendeborg, to free himself up for an easy layup for his first bucket with his new team.
Walker Kessler BODIES his way inside for his first preseason bucket with the Lakers 😤 pic.twitter.com/YM57CrBceo
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Kessler played in just five games last season after injuring his shoulder, which then required season-ending surgery to correct. In those five games, it looked like Kessler was beginning to take a leap, averaging 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per contest all while flashing a much-improved three-point shot (making six of eight during that brief 2025-26 season cameo).
The Lakers are banking on Kessler to provide the team with the interior presence they need as they fully lean into their identity as a team with Doncic and Reaves at the controls. They traded away two unprotected first-round picks and two unprotected first-round pick swaps to the Utah Jazz to get the privilege of signing him to a four-year, $130 million contract — signaling just how much belief the front office has in him.
At the time of writing, Kessler only has two points and three rebounds in seven minutes of play as the Lakers lead by six, 27-21, with a little over two minutes to go in the first quarter of their contest against the Warriors.
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