Beyond their Utah chemistry, these Atlanta natives maintained an offseason bond that made their transition to Los Angeles seamless. Now, their pick-and-roll mastery gives the Lakers an instant spark.
Collin Sexton and Walker Kessler made their reunion look almost suspiciously easy.
The former Utah Jazz teammates recently popped up together at the Big A Classic in Atlanta, where old habits apparently didn't require much refreshing. Sexton attacked the paint, Kessler rolled toward the basket and the two repeatedly connected like they hadn't spent the previous season playing for different teams.
As it turns out ... they never really stopped.
Sexton has now revealed that even after Utah separated the longtime teammates last summer, he and Kessler continued working out together during the offseason.
And their connection actually predates the Jazz entirely.
"Walker, that's my guy, we're both from Atlanta," Sexton said on the Lakers' YouTube channel. "I grew up watching Walker. When I was in the league, I knew he was next coming out."
That's quite the history for two players who eventually took separate paths from Georgia to Utah ... and now back together in Los Angeles.
Sexton and Kessler both arrived in Salt Lake City during Utah's franchise-altering summer of 2022. Sexton was acquired from Cleveland as part of the Donovan Mitchell trade, while Kessler came from Minnesota in the massive Rudy Gobert package.
They then spent three seasons sharing the floor for the Jazz.
"So playing in Utah, we created some really good chemistry together and even in the summertime, we always work out together," Sexton said. "So, it's cool to have him as my teammate again."
Their first run together ended last summer when Utah traded Sexton and a 2030 second-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets for Jusuf Nurkić.
Kessler remained in Utah for another season before the Jazz sent him to Los Angeles in a sign-and-trade this summer. Sexton eventually found his own way to the Lakers after stops with Charlotte and Chicago.
And while the reunion is happening in an entirely different situation, their responsibilities should at least contain some familiar elements.
Sexton's downhill aggression made him a natural partner for Kessler during their time in Utah. The 7-footer could screen, roll toward the basket and provide an enormous target whenever Sexton's drives forced the defense to react.
Now they'll get to dust off that connection without being asked to carry Los Angeles' offense.
Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves will command plenty of touches, leaving Sexton to provide scoring and pace while Kessler handles much of the screening, finishing, rebounding and rim protection that made him valuable in Utah.
How much their preexisting chemistry actually matters once the regular season begins remains to be seen.
But the Lakers won't have to introduce two of their newest additions.
The Jazz already took care of that part.
And apparently, Sexton and Kessler made sure the connection never completely disappeared.
