Not to be too much of a Debbie Downer here, but Los Angeles Lakers fans shouldn't get too excited about Walker Kessler's performance on opening night against the Golden State Warriors.
Yes, Kessler was excellent. Yes, Kessler is many levels above 2025-26 Lakers center Deandre Ayton in quality. But before we christen Kessler the "best big man" in the NBA (as Shaquille O'Neal ridiculously did on Wednesday night), we need to remind ourselves who Kessler was up against in his Lakers debut.
Walker Kessler didn't face any real size or athleticism during his dominant outing vs. Warriors
Kessler is 7-foot-2. The Warriors started 6-foot-6 Draymond Green at center on Wednesday. Green's primary backup at center was 6-foot-8 Al Horford, who is also 40 years old, with all due respect. Golden State had the 6-foot-9 (and highly athletic) Yaxel Lendeborg in their starting lineup, but defensively, Lendeborg spent more time out on the perimeter trying to irritate Luka Doncic than he did down low offering help with Kessler.
In other words, there was absolutely no one remotely close to Kessler's size and length capable of bothering him above the rim. He ended up with 26 points and nine rebounds, and 10 of his 12 field goal conversions were uncontested dunks. He did his job. He looked sharp. But was this an "impressive" performance from Kessler? Not necessarily, given how small Golden State is (losing Kristaps Porzingis is looking disastrous at the moment).
Walker Kessler still hasn't proven anything in a Lakers uniform
Let's see how Kessler plays against 7-foot (or taller) centers with some youth and athleticism. You know ... guys who are less than 30 years old and actually smothering other centers at the rim. Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren. Isaiah Hartenstein.
The Lakers didn't sign Kessler to bully undersized big men and run up and down the floor completely unchallenged physically. To be true contenders in the West, the Lakers will need Kessler to go toe-to-toe with the Wembys and the Chets and do more than just survive. He'll need to take (figurative) punches and punch back.
Kessler looked speedy and conditioned on Wednesday night, but will he be just as spry in March and April, when a season's worth of nagging injuries has taken its toll, and Zach Edey is elbowing him in the ribs on every possession on a Tuesday night in Memphis?
Let's celebrate Kessler as a guy who's doing his job. Let's be happy that he's healthy. But let's reserve any and all judgment -- and certainly not coronate him as anything -- until he's gone up against the actual heavyweights at his position.
Add us as a preferred source on Google