What does Walker Kessler anticipate feeling during his Lakers debut on Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena?
“Honestly, I can’t say – I haven’t played yet,” he joked after Tuesday’s practice, which was the last workout before the regular season opener against the Warriors.
Even though he hasn’t stepped onto the court yet, Kessler, a key offseason signing for the Lakers, is aware of the typical pregame nerves.
This game marks Kessler’s first regular season appearance since October 31, 2025, when he was with the Jazz. He underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in November, which kept him out for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
“I’m just really excited to get back out there,” he expressed. “It feels like forever since I played a real NBA game.”
Considering he played only five games before his surgery and participated in just one of Utah’s last eight games in the 2024-25 season, it’s been quite a stretch since he played regularly.
Since March 28, 2025, he has only been on the court for six regular season games.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Kessler said. “I know there will be some nerves before the game. But once the whistle blows and the ball is tipped, I think everything else will fall into place. Getting back into a rhythm is important, and I just have to focus on the opportunity to play again.”
The Lakers hold high hopes for Kessler to serve as a solid support for star guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
This is part of why they signed him to a four-year, $130 million deal in a sign-and-trade with the Utah Jazz, which also involved the Lakers giving up unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, along with first-round swap options in 2028 and 2030.
They plan to take a long-term view with the 25-year-old to nurture his development into the player they believe he can become.
“With him, our focus has to be on the bigger picture,” Coach JJ Redick noted. “We need to adopt a broader perspective with this. Just like we’re doing with Cam [Carr] as he develops, the same applies to Walker. He hasn’t played alongside someone like Luka before and hasn’t really had the responsibility of being a defensive focal point. We believe he can reach an All-Star level, and that will take time. It’s going to be a process for him.”
