The Lakers went absolutely wild this offseason, right? So many new faces, so fast, it was genuinely overwhelming. But their BIG swing, the move everyone’s talking about, was bringing in Walker Kessler. Get this: they’re banking EVERYTHING on his defense to transform their squad into one of the league’s best. Seriously, they want him to anchor, be the main man down low, and the perfect pick-and-roll partner for Luka Dončić. That’s a huge, huge bet for the purple and gold, don’t you think?
He’s a Problem in the Paint
We got the inside scoop from James Hansen, site manager at Salt Lake City Dunk, and he spilled the beans on what Kessler truly brings. First off, his rim protection is absolutely legit. When Kessler is patrolling the paint, opponents’ scoring at the rim plummets. We’re talking 99th percentile in block percentage, according to Dunks & Threes. Let that sink in: 99th percentile! That’s wild. Consistently holding down the paint is, hands down, the most crucial thing on defense, and Kessler just owns that space.
But there’s more. The guy can put the ball in the hoop when he’s close, too. He shot 68% on 2s last season (2026), 67.6% in 2025, and 67.7% in 2024. Every single one of those seasons? 98th percentile or better! He doesn’t have an isolation game, but you get him the rock near the rim, and it’s practically an automatic two points.
And it gets even better with his offensive rebounding. He was in the 98th percentile last season and 97th percentile the year before. He grabs those boards and he scores the ball. That ability to put constant pressure on the rim easily amps up a team’s offensive efficiency night after night. This dude is a rim-running, board-crashing, shot-swatting machine.
The Catch: Where He Needs to Level Up
Now, let’s be real, no player is flawless, and Kessler definitely has areas to tighten up. First up, his free throw shooting is a headache. He’s been stuck in the low 50s for two of his four seasons. He did hit 70% last season, but that was in just five games, so Hansen wisely told us to take that with a grain of salt. It’s one of those maddening things where you see glimpses of improvement, then BAM, he falls right back into old, frustrating habits. Maybe with the Lakers he will finally find consistency, but as of right now, it’s a glaring issue.
Then there’s his overall skillset. He’s more of a darling for the advanced analytics crowd than a guy who consistently passes the eye test. Kessler has teased us with a 3-point shot at times, but from what Hansen mentioned, it sounds like when the Jazz actually had him let th…
So, the Lakers went all-in on Kessler, hoping his insane defense and super-efficient interior scoring can elevate their entire team. The question for the purple and gold now is huge: Can he finally iron out that free throw shooting? Can he truly be the consistent defensive monster they’re paying for? This is a massive “wait and see” for the franchise. It will be fascinating to watch if this big swing pays off and truly anchors their season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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