Walker Kessler was finally back on an NBA court Tuesday night against the Golden State Warriors, hitting the hardwood for the first time in 11.5 months, and what a return it was. In a Lakers preseason debut that barely scratched 16 minutes, the 25-year-old was mighty productive, dropping 11 points and gobbling up nine rebounds. But it wasn’t just his stat line that turned heads, it was the staggering 42-point swing in performance that coach JJ Redick saw when Kessler was off the floor.
Back On The Court, And Right Back To Work
Kessler didn’t waste any time making an impact. In his limited run, he racked up 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting, snagged nine boards, dished out an assist, swatted a block, and even nabbed a steal. Talk about filling up the stat sheet! It’s clear he was chomping at the bit to get back out there. He told reporters postgame, “It was a lot of fun being out there again. It’s been so long. Before the game, I was actually pretty nervous, but getting out there and just playing with the guys, it was a blast.”
He’s not wrong, you could feel his presence. He was an effective play-finisher, hitting those pockets of space, and already found a rhythm with Austin Reaves for a couple of pick-and-roll buckets. And get this: the thought of him forming a tidy pick-and-roll partnership with Luka Dončić, who got the night off, is already buzzing. Kessler attacked the glass like a beast, gobbling up rebounds and punctuating defensive stops. The guy just knows how to make plays.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: Redick Sees The Discrepancy
Head coach JJ Redick was definitely complimentary of his starting center’s impact, saying, “I think he’s a great fit for our team. I thought he did a nice job of running the floor, crashing, had some terrific rebounds in traffic, protected the rim. Just really, really good first half from him.” But Redick also zeroed in on the glaring difference in performance when Kessler was on the court versus when he wasn’t. It was jarring, and Redick doesn’t want that contrast to stick around.
How jarring was it? With Kessler on the floor, the Lakers outscored Golden State by 15 points. When he sat? They were outscored by a whopping 27 points! That’s a 42-point swing, people! Redick specifically highlighted the rebounding issue when Kessler sat, noting, “They had two offensive rebounds at halftime and they had 13 in the second half. He didn’t played in the second half.” That’s a huge area of concern moving forward for the team as a whole. Still, Redick acknowledged that for someone who’d been out for 10 days this preseason, Kessler’s return was “really, really good overall.”
What’s clear is Kessler brings something vital, and while it’s great to have him back and productive, Redick is already looking for the rest of the squad to step up. If they want to contend, they can’t afford to fall apart the minute their starting center hits the bench. It’s on everyone to bring that intensity for a full 48 minutes, whether Kessler is out there or not.
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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