Is it too early to get excited about Walker Kessler?
asserted
it → get → Kessler
We know that he’s an elite rebounder and rim protector.
asserted
he → know → ?
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.
asserted
that → ’ → direction
He’s a personality guy.
asserted
He → ’ → ?
“I look at him as a two-way talent, and I think the fit is exciting,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said Tuesday when asked what excites him most about the center, before emphasizing his next sentence.
“The person is really exciting.”
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person → look → sentence
In the three media availabilities Kessler has had with reporters since the Lakers acquired him on a four-year, $130 million deal — which included LA trading a slew of assets to Utah — Kessler has already made a big impression.
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Kessler → have → impression
He has said multiple times he’d run through a wall for the Lakers.
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he → say → Lakers
What does that mean?
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that → mean → What
“It’s a great question,” Kessler said, flashing a smile.
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Kessler → ’ → smile
“For me, it’s just doing the little things and just competing my tail off every night and doing all the little stuff, whether that’s setting a hard screen, crashing the glass, sprinting the floor, just doing all the things it takes to win.
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it → do → things
It’s not lost on Kessler that the Lakers went all in on him.
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Lakers → lose → him
They have zero tradable first-round draft picks through 2033 after trading two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033) and two pick swaps (2028 and 2030) to the Jazz for him.
asserted
They → have → him
Kessler seems genuinely grateful they took that gamble.
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they → seem → gamble
“When you have someone backing you and someone that shows you the belief that they have in you, it makes it a lot easier to want to make them proud and want to make them feel like you’re doing your absolute best for them,” he said.
asserted
he → have → them
Kessler has already excited everyone around him.
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Kessler → excite → him
Jake LaRavia said Kessler changes everything defensively when he’s on the court.
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he → say → court
“It’s going to make us wings and guards feel a lot more comfortable being a little bit more aggressive defensively, maybe being able to pick up full court a little bit more,” LaRavia said.
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LaRavia → go → court
Added Matisse Thybulle: ““[I] just feel like I can fully live up to my defensive potential because of having a rim protector like Walker.”
asserted
I → add → Walker
As for Kessler, he’s all in on the Lakers.
asserted
he → ’ → Lakers
Redick recently said he believes the Lakers could be championship contenders this season.
uncertain
Lakers → say → ?
Kessler didn’t hesitate when asked if he agreed.
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he → hesitate → ?
“I believe so,” he said.
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he → believe → ?
What does he think of the Lakers’ defense?”
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he → think → defense
We’re going to be a nasty defensive team,” he said.
asserted
he → go → ?
“I think people aren’t taking into account how good our perimeter defense is going to be with some of these guys,” he said.
asserted
he → think → guys
Oh, yeah, who?”I mean, Thi [Adou Thiero], Ziaire [Williams], Quentin [Grimes], Bull [Thybulle], Van [Jarred Vanderbilt], Jake — I could go through the whole team.”
OK, what do you think about Redick’s coaching style?
uncertain
you → mean → style
“In film, I was ready to go fight somebody or something,” he said.
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he → go → film
“He’s such a good motivator.
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He → ’ → ?
He’s incredible.
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He → ’ → ?
And your chemistry with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves?”It’s not hard to be a fit when the guys are as good as they are,” he said.
asserted
he → ’ → Doncic
It’s obvious he’s already making a contribution to the team, and we haven’t even seen him take the court yet wearing Purple-and-Gold.
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him → ’ → Purple
Everyone wants to play with him.
asserted
Everyone → want → him
Everyone likes him.
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Everyone → like → him
Everyone believes he can turn things around for the Lakers on defense.
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he → believe → defense
They averaged just 4.3 blocks per game.
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They → average → game
That should change with Kessler down low.
asserted
That → change → ?
In 2024-25, Kessler was second in the league in blocks (2.4), and he contested 7.5 shots per game at the rim, which tied him for fifth most in the league, according to NBA.com.
uncertain
which → contest → NBA.com
Last season, we only got to see a glimpse of Kessler.
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we → get → Kessler
He averaged 11.1 points and 12.2 rebounds in five games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.
asserted
He → average → injury
Kessler, who essentially has only played three NBA seasons, believes he hasn’t even begun tapping into his potential.
asserted
he → play → potential
…and 19 more, not listed.
The Aporia
