Playing with the Utah Jazz never gave Walker Kessler an opportunity to show that he is a winning basketball player. The Jazz were far more interested in tanking for draft position during his time in Utah. That had his skeptics questioning whether Kessler was truly a player who could impact winning.
Quite easily. I’ve watched a lot of basketball. I know when someone impacts winning https://t.co/9PShqFbZAl
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) September 2, 2026
It may have only been a preseason game, but Tuesday night's matchup against the Golden State Warriors should have erased that doubt for the new Los Angeles Lakers center. Kessler was fantastic. More than that, the impact on winning was clear when the Lakers looked far worse without him.
Kessler only suited up for the first half in this one. During that time, the Lakers comfortably controlled the basketball game behind his 11 points, 9 rebounds, one steal, and one block in the first two quarters. He was mobile and nimble moving on the court, affecting the game both on both defense and offense. That immediately made him the Lakers' plus-minus leader at +15.
When it was clear Kessler was not heading back out there to start the second half, the drop-off quickly arrived. Without him, the Lakers lost control of the game. Since it was preseason, no one will lose sleep over that fact and the 101-89 loss.
What the contest did manage to highlight just how much the new starting center in Los Angeles was held back by the Jazz.
Walker Kessler is very clearly a winning basketball player
Environments matter. Kessler's situation is offering a perfect example of just how much that can be the case.
The Lakers have every intention of being competitive in 2026-27. That will allow Kessler a chance to rewrite and enhance his reputation around the league.
Think about someone like Andrew Wiggins and just how much his career changed when he left the Minnesota Timberwolves for the Warriors. Golden State took his career narrative from disappointing first overall pick to solid support piece on a championship team.
Much has been made of how bad Utah's overall defensive units were despite Kessler's strongly perceived individual ability on that end. It comes off silly in hindsight, right? A tanking team was not going to show up in the necessary way to justify the former Jazz center as an elite defender.
The Lakers may not be poised to push for a top-five defense either. However, there is much more room on the whole for Kessler to firmly put this winning player conversation in the rearview mirror. Getting a full regular season of strong two-way play will do that for him.
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