Walker Kessler arrived at the Lakers as the latest in a storied line of dominant centers, joining a legacy that includes George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, and Pau Gasol—all champions whose jerseys hang retired in the franchise.
Each day at practice, the 7-foot-2 center takes in the wall displaying those iconic names and numbers at the team’s facility. When asked about the pressure of following such a lineage, Kessler reframed it as opportunity rather than burden.
“If I talked to my 8-year-old self telling me, ‘Hey, you’re going to be the starting Lakers center,’ it puts it in perspective,” Kessler said. “So what an opportunity. I’m just so grateful to God. I mean, it’s fantastic.”
The Lakers acquired Kessler from the Utah Jazz through a sign-and-trade deal in which Los Angeles sent two first-round draft picks and two first-round draft swaps, then signed him to a four-year, $130-million contract. The investment signals the franchise’s confidence in his ability to fulfill that historic role.
According to coach JJ Redick, Kessler wanted to be a Laker precisely because of the stakes involved. “I think he wants to embrace that,” Redick said. “That’s why he wanted to be a Laker. And why he wanted to be here was because of the fact that there are stakes every single night when you wear a Lakers uniform.”
Kessler averaged 9.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.2 assists per game over his first four NBA seasons. An injured left shoulder limited him to only five games last season with the Jazz, but he said he is now fully healthy.
Luka Doncic, the Lakers’ superstar, specifically requested Kessler as a teammate. The guard believes the center’s skill set—as a lob threat, rim-runner, screen-setter, and defender—aligns with what has worked for him in the past. “Obviously [I was] kind of involved, not signing him but there was a lot of communication with Rob and JJ about him, so I’m very excited to just share the floor with him,” Doncic said.
Kessler acknowledged that his competitive nature—which extends even to board games like Catan—will serve him well as he navigates the pressure. “I think I try to put pressure on myself because at the end of the day, it is a sport and I play my best version of myself when I go out there and compete every night and just play with joy,” he said.
Key facts
- Walker Kessler signed a four-year, $130-million deal with the Lakers after a sign-and-trade with Utah involving two first-round picks and two first-round swaps
- Kessler averaged 9.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.2 assists per game over his first four NBA seasons
- The 7-foot-2 center missed 77 games last season recovering from shoulder surgery for a torn labrum
- Luka Doncic specifically requested Kessler as a teammate
- Kessler joins a Lakers legacy that includes George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, and Pau Gasol—all championship winners