Walker Kessler Hasn’t Played a Competitive Game and The Lakers’ Entire Season Hinges On Him Being Great

The Los Angeles Lakers are gearing up for their season opener against the Golden State Warriors, but it is not Luka Dončić or Austin Reaves dominating the conversation around the league. One Western Conference scout dropped a bombshell to The Athletic’s Dan Woike, stating point blank that the Lakers’ season “hinges on Walker Kessler” being the player everyone expects him to be. This is a massive claim for their biggest offseason acquisition, and it is going to put a ton of pressure on his debut tonight.

The Pressure Cooker Is On for Kessler’s Debut

It is a wild situation: Kessler is their biggest offseason acquisition, yet he is completely unproven on the competitive NBA court. This scout laid out the brutal truth: “Their season hinges on Walker Kessler. One, he has to be healthy. And then two, he has to be good. … And because he hasn’t played in a competitive NBA game, we don’t know how he’s going to handle that.” Talk about high stakes for a guy who has not even officially suited up for a competitive game yet!

Kessler Is The Defensive Anchor The Lakers Desperately Need

Why is Kessler so unbelievably important to the Lakers’ success? The roster construction is a huge factor, especially on defense. Opposing teams constantly target Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, and that is where Kessler has to step up and dominate. Lakers head coach JJ Redick sees the vision, telling ESPN’s Dave McMenamin that Kessler “has the potential to be one of the best rim [protection] guys, and when he’s played, he’s been that for the most part.” Redick even mentioned he is “more just being excited about this team, than comparing the two teams.” That is a massive vote of confidence, but potential needs to translate to performance immediately, especially against the Warriors tonight.

So, as the Lakers get ready to tip off their season against the Golden State Warriors, every single set of eyes will be on Walker Kessler. Can he be healthy? Can he be good? Can he live up to the hype and carry the defensive load that Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves desperately need? Tonight, we start to find out if the scout’s words are a warning or a prophecy.

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Originally reported by Bleacher Report.