Walker Kessler is barely 47 minutes into his Lakers career after a jammed finger sidelined him, but teammates are already talking about him like he’s warping the fabric of reality on the court. After shelling out two first-round picks, two first-round pick swaps, and $130 million over four years for the big man, it’s clear the Lakers aren’t just looking for a rim protector, they’re hoping for a game-changer. And early signs from guys like Matisse Thybulle suggest they might just have one.
What Even *Is* Defensive Gravity?
You hear about offensive gravity all the time, right? Guys like Stephen Curry pulling defenders out of position just by existing on the court, or Luka Dončić drawing multiple bodies as he surveys the floor. But what if that same concept could be flipped for defense? Matisse Thybulle, one of the league’s most articulate players, thinks Walker Kessler is doing exactly that. “You talk about gravity on offense, right? With Luka and all them,” Thybulle explained during training camp. “On defense, [Kessler] kind of creates that sense for us [on the perimeter]. Walker being able to tell us where to be and letting us know where he’s at, lets us know how things are orbiting around him.” Even Lakers head coach JJ Redick, trying to work out the calculus in his head, admitted Thybulle might be onto something. Redick confessed he’d “have to really think about the physics of that…on the opposite end of the court…gravity usually attracts bodies…I think Matisse is saying the opposite thing, but I’ve also spent enough time around Matisse the last five years to know he’s a lot smarter than me…so, I’ll have to figure that one out.” Sounds like Kessler is already messing with opponents and his own coach’s head, which is pretty wild for an early season debut.
The Numbers (And The Price Tag) Don’t Lie
Redick might be scratching his head over the science, but he absolutely gets the gist of why Kessler cost so much. The Lakers, and heck, even Luka Dončić, have been desperate for a true rim protector for a long, long time. Kessler played just 47 minutes across two preseason games after jamming his finger slapping the backboard in practice. But in that super limited time, he snagged 15 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals. That’s serious business. Coach Redick was quick to praise his early impact, saying, “Defensively, Walker’s really done a nice job…of using his voice. He has a pretty good understanding of what we want to do defensively. He’s going to be such a big piece of what we’re trying to do on that end. He’s going to be able to really quarterback on that backline for us.” The addition of Kessler, alongside Kevon Looney, is giving Redick a real option to pivot away from the switch-heavy defense the team has been used to.
With Kessler now healthy and ready to truly unleash his unique defensive presence, it seems Redick finally has the piece to transform the Lakers’ entire defensive scheme. His ability to ‘quarterback’ from the backline and deter opponents could be exactly what they’ve been starved for, and it’s going to be wild to watch how this defensive gravity concept plays out over the early 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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