The infamous Rudy Gobert trade has been debated ad nauseam, but the one talking point that persists to this day is that the Utah Jazz thought they'd found his replacement in Walker Kessler. Fast forward to 2026 and the Los Angeles Lakers have reason to still believe the hype.
NBA insider and former Jazz writer Tony Jones stoked the flames during a recent interview by rekindling the upside comparison discussion. The question is: What would Kessler reaching Gobert's level actually entail?
Clearly, Gobert is an ambitious target for any player to aim for. He's a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, four-time All-NBA honoree, and nine-time All-Defense selectee who has effectively become one of the most impactful talents that the NBA has to offer.
Jones discussed Gobert's impact, as well as Kessler's similar potential, during a recent interview with Jovan Buha of Buha's Block.
"I think that he has a chance to be a Rudy Gobert level defender. Which is essentially a one-man top-10 defense. That's exactly what Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves really, really need. They need somebody who defends the paint, just really shuts down the paint....He is a special defender. He's one of the only guys in the league that blocks shots at the same level with both hands."
It's an ambitious comparison considering Gobert has a strong case for becoming a Hall of Famer, but from a pure execution perspective, it's an interesting conversation.
Former Jazz writer Tony Jones compares Walker Kessler to Rudy Gobert
Gobert's success has been built on a number of factors, but there are three critical areas that stand above the rest. One is drop coverage, as Gobert blows up the pick-and-roll as well as anyone in the game. The second is rim protection and deterrence as a pivotal package deal.
The third is perhaps the most important of all: Availability. To put it simply, Gobert has appeared in at least 70 games in all but two of the past eight seasons. One of the two exceptions was the COVID year.
The good news for Los Angeles is that Kessler is already one of the better defenders in the NBA at drop coverage. That's partially reflected in the fact that he ranked in the 78th percentile in screener rim defense in 2024-25—his last healthy season—per Basketball Index.
If Kessler can reach the ranks of the elite in that regard, then the Lakers will have a true interior anchor to build a potential top-10 defense around.
As far as the second point is concerned, Kessler is a dominant rim protector and deterrent. In 2024-25, he ranked in the 97th percentile in rim deterrence, the 99th percentile in rim disruption, and the 95th percentile in defensive rebounds per 75 possessions, per Basketball Index. That certainly fuels the fire in regard to the Gobert comparison.
Unfortunately, availability is a question after Kessler missed 76 games in 2025-26 and 24 in 2024-25. If he can become as durable as Gobert, however, then the comparison may be apt after all.
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