The Los Angeles Lakers revamped their roster around Luka Doncic this summer with a long-term vision in mind, but they will only stay together if Walker Kessler breaks out. The Lakers signed Austin Reaves, Kessler, Quentin Grimes, and Sandro Mamukelashvili to four-year deals to be the core around Doncic for years to come. They had to give up two first-round draft picks and two first-round swaps to land Kessler. It was a hefty price, and the Lakers need him to become a dominant defensive force like Rudy Gobert for this to work.
Kessler’s early career compares favorably to Gobert’s. They are both elite rebounders and shot blockers. Kessler hasn’t met the 65-game requirement for awards since his rookie season, but he needs to be in the running for first-team All-Defense and expand his offensive game to score 14 points a night like prime Gobert.
Kessler got a $129.4 million contract from the Lakers. He is their third-highest-paid player and defensive anchor. The perimeter defense around him is questionable at best. The Lakers were clearly banking on improvement. He just needs to catch lobs from Luka and patrol the paint. Being an elite rim protector and rebounder will make LA a title contender.
Walker Kessler must be an elite defender
The Lakers have defensive questions with Luka and Austin Reaves as their two best players. They both struggle on the perimeter and are ideally hidden on lesser offensive options. LA brought in Quentin Grimes to be their perimeter stopper, but they still have a hole for their fifth starting spot. It will be a competition in training camp. None of the options are ideal, which puts even more pressure on Kessler.
The 7’2 big man played just five games last season before having season-ending shoulder surgery. Kessler has appeared in 201 contests in his first four NBA seasons, but some of that was the Jazz sitting him out to tank. The Lakers need 65-plus games and for him to return to his 2025 form.
During the 2024-25 season, opponents shot just 49.0 percent against Kessler within six feet of the basket per NBA Stats. He had a negative 15.3 difference between his allowed field goal percentage and the expected, which was fifth-best in the NBA among players who played at least 45 games. Kessler did it in 58, but now he must do it for a contender over more contests with even more pressure put on him.
The Lakers wisely paid for a big man, but this sign-and-trade only works if Kessler is their defensive anchor. A hallmark of a true title contender is finishing top ten in offensive and defensive rating. The Lakers will have an elite offense and will need Kessler to prop up the defense to get them anywhere near the top.
Walker Kessler will get more easy buckets
Luka is one of the best shot creators in the world, and Austin Reaves continues to improve. The purple and gold will have an elite offense. A pillar of Doncic’s game is running pick-and-rolls. He is an elite lob passer and draws so much defensive attention that easy buckets come for others.
In 2025, Kessler produced just 1.04 points per possession as a roll man, which ranked below the NBA average. Fans saw Ayton jump from 1.13 in his final year in Portland to 1.24 last season playing with Luka. DA is not known for attacking the rim, either. If Kessler is committed to dunking the ball, Doncic will make him an elite roll man.
In 2025, Kessler’s shot 77.0 percent within three feet of the basket, and he produced 131 dunks. The Lakers hope to create more opportunities in both categories. The 7’2 big man is a problem in the paint, and Doncic will try to exploit that frequently.
Walker Kessler’s jumper could be a bonus
The 25-year-old steadily increased his 3-point attempts in his first three seasons, but he only took 56 in total. Last season, he took eight in five games and made six of them. Kessler won’t shoot 75.0 percent from 3-point range this season, but attempting over one per game could be a floor-spacing bonus for LA.
Versatility is dominating the NBA. Players who can do multiple things help their teams win. Head coach JJ Redick will embrace Kessler shooting threes if he can consistently make them. It is too early to tell, but this could be a bonus in a Kessler breakout.
The Los Angeles Lakers need Walker Kessler to become an elite defender and larger offensive weapon to keep this core built around Luka Doncic together long-term. Fans know what Doncic and Reaves are going to do. Kessler has room and opportunity to grow. Being a first-team All-Defense selection and elite roll man makes the Lakers a serious title threat. LA believes he can do it, and their current build hinges on that potential becoming reality.
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