The Lakers fell 2-2 in the preseason against the Golden State Warriors, but the new center's first-half performance gave fans plenty to like.
The Lakers dropped a 12-point decision to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night, but the result took a back seat to Walker Kessler finally stepping on the floor. The 25-year-old center, acquired in a sign-and-trade from the Utah Jazz over the offseason, made his preseason debut after missing the team's first three exhibition games with a jammed pinkie finger.
Kessler played only the first half but made it count, finishing with 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting, nine rebounds, one block and one steal. It was his first NBA action since Oct. 31, 2025, when he played five games into last season before going down.
Coach JJ Redick has been pushing a "relentless" mentality for his roster, and Kessler's energy on both ends matched that message. Lakers fans had spent months waiting to see what the big man would look like after the team committed significant assets to bring him in, and the nerves around the move eased considerably once he actually took the court.
With Kessler finally available, the Lakers now get to see how he fits alongside the rest of the rotation as the preseason winds down.