The Los Angeles Lakers traded for Walker Kessler to be the anchor of their defense. He’s been outstanding at challenging shots at the rim, but the purple and gold still sit 19th in defensive rating after six games. Kessler has been the rim protector Luka Doncic wanted. Sadly, one man can’t make a defense.
Kessler has a minus-12.8 difference between his defended field goal percentage within six feet of the rim and the field goal percentage. Last season, just nine players who appeared in at least 65 games were better. Kessler is challenging shots inside and making it tough for the opposition, but the Lakers are still struggling.
Los Angeles is still sorting out a solution to back Kessler up, and they are the worst rebounding team in the NBA. Defenses need to finish possessions. Part of this is JJ Redick’s rotations and the composition of the Lakers' new-look roster built around Doncic. The Lakers need to sort it out quickly.
Lakers desperately need to find a trusted backup for Walker Kessler
LA started the season with Kevon Looney as their backup five, but the Lakers were outscored by 29 points in his 30 minutes of action in the first four games. The three-time NBA champion has declined. He can no longer get to where he needs to be, so the Lakers have used Sandro Mamukelashvili and Jarred Vanderbilt in that spot for the last two games.
Both players are undersized, which shows up in Los Angeles’ rim protection and rebounding. Mamu is grabbing 5.2 rebounds and blocking 0.7 shots in 23.3 minutes per game. Vando grabs 5.0 boards in 17.0 minutes and has to record a block. The Lakers can’t expect elite rim protection and rebounding from these two.
There is nowhere else to turn. Adou Thiero is recovering from a knee injury and is 6’7. The Lakers need to make a trade to bring in a trusted backup option behind Kessler.
Lakers need someone to crash the glass
LA is grabbing 39.2 rebounds per game, which is the fewest in the NBA. They are 29th in defensive rebound percentage for those hoping this is problem is made worse by playing a slower pace. The Lakers simply aren’t getting rebounds.
Kessler averages 9.0 per game, which sits tied for 14th in the NBA. The team needs more. The 7’2 big man grabbed 12.2 per game in 2025. That is where LA needs him to be, but Kessler can’t take all the blame.
Luka is second on the team with 6.8 boards per game. That is well below his 8.5 per game average for his career. Mamu and Vando are the only other players over 4.0 each night.
The Lakers are often playing Ziaire Williams or Jake LaRavia at the four. Both players are undersized and struggle to rebound. Head coach JJ Redick needs to get them crashing the glass or find a sustainable solution elsewhere. The Lakers can’t be the worst rebounding team in the NBA and a serious title contender.
Lakers defensive rating must improve
The hallmark of a championship contender is being top ten in both offensive and defensive rating. Through six games, the Lakers are second on offense, but 19th in defensive rating. The Denver Nuggets in 2023 were the last team to win the title with a defensive rating outside the top seven. Even Denver was 15th. The last team to win it all with a defensive rating below 19th was the defending champion Lakers in 2001.
Being the first team in a quarter century to do something doesn’t seem like a safe bet, so the Lakers must improve to be a serious title threat. They need to rebound better, find a backup big man, and finish defensive possessions. It may mean playing more zone or mixing up coverages.
The Lakers need to emphasize this end of the floor. Luka and Austin Reaves will give LA an elite offense. They need to get stops and get the ball back to this high-powered unit. Kessler has been protecting the rim and making it difficult to score in the paint. The rest of the Lakers need to pick up their defense.
The Los Angeles Lakers should improve from here. They have nine new players on their 15-man roster, and only three of their top nine in minutes per game were on the team last season. This group is still trying to figure out how to play together. Coach Redick has made rebounding a focus. They must get boards and defend better if they want to compete for the championship.
Walker Kessler gives LA an elite defensive anchor, but he can’t do it alone. The stars need to rebound better, and everyone must step up when the 7’2 big man goes to the bench.
Being connected and playing together is the Lakers' path to creating a better defense that makes the whole better than the sum of its parts. Coach Redick has done this before and must work his magic again. Be patient and hope this all comes together.
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