The last time Walker Kessler played an organized game in the NBA was Oct. 31, 2025. The calendar is pushing almost a full year since that date. Thankfully for Kessler, his preseason debut with the Los Angeles Lakers should be just around the corner.
The Lakers have been cautious with their new starting center in the lead-up to the new 2026-27 regular season. Kessler has been dealing with a pinkie issue. When the games do not count, it is always better to preach patience and not force someone on the court if they do not need to be there.
After Lakers practice, Kessler did say that injury 'feels good.' There was an eagerness to finally get suited up for the new big man in Los Angeles.
"Because I didn’t play last season, I'm like, ‘Ah, I want to play really bad.’ I’m ready to play but I trust the staff.”
There are two games left on the preseason schedule for the Lakers. Tuesday night, they will host the Golden State Warriors. Friday will end their stretch of warm-up games against the Denver Nuggets. At least one of those contests should offer a little bit of imperfect insight into how this team functions with Kessler available.
Lakers will get to see if their weaknesses are still that with Walker Kessler
The rebounding and points in the paint battle are two key areas in which the Lakers have struggled without Kessler around. They have lost the statistical head-to-head in those categories during each of their first three preseason games. Their new center should be able to provide a lift.
Kessler has been a monster on the boards throughout his first four years in the NBA. Seeing just how much that can stabilize the Lakers unit as a whole will be important.
A similar thing can be said for the paint battle. Kessler can finish plays inside for Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, or whoever else is playmaking. The Lakers center is also going to prevent opposing offenses from doing damage on the interior.
The main thing the Lakers should want to see is how much Kessler can stop these two areas from being chalked up as an immediate losses for them.
Lakers defense with Walker Kessler can finally be showcased
There is a cautious excitement over what the Lakers defense can do after seeing the physicality and high energy displayed thus far in the preseason. How much better does it all look when there is a real defensive ace who is holding things down in the middle?
Kessler said: "I've been asked to kind of be the defensive anchor. So that's going to be my role, to kind of be the linebacker of the defense, kind of take control of that."
Kessler was an elite shot-blocker with the Utah Jazz. However, there was never a real opportunity to captain a strong defensive unit, considering the Jazz's constant interest in maximizing their draft position. Whether he can do that, and what the schemes look like will be given a sneak preview in whichever of the preseason games Kessler can give it a go.
Lakers could even get some hints about the starting lineup with Walker Kessler playing
Figuring out who the final two starters are has a ton to do with who compliments Doncic and Reaves best. Kessler should not be a total afterthought in relation to making those decisions, though.
Who are the defenders who can fit best alongside him? That is a question worth asking in trying to make the call on how the starting lineup will look on opening night.
The Lakers have probably gotten a good idea of that behind the scenes. Seeing it during preseason action will allow everyone else to get a glimpse of that for themselves. It should aid projections over how the rotation comes together in Los Angeles.
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