Walker Kessler's Jazz Homecoming Ends With a Cruel Twist for Utah

Walker Kessler returned to Salt Lake City on Sunday and attempted two shots. The Utah Jazz grabbed 20 offensive rebounds, built an 18-point lead and held their former center to just two points.

Somehow, the Los Angeles Lakers still walked away with a 132-123 victory.

And afterward, Kessler admitted his emotions had gotten the better of him.

"Going into the game, I definitely let my emotions get the best of me," Kessler said.

That's quite the admission from someone who'd looked almost unstoppable through his first two games in Los Angeles.

Kessler entered Sunday averaging 24 points, 8.5 rebounds and four blocks while shooting an absurd 84.6% from the field. His early chemistry with Luka Doncic had already given Lakers fans plenty to celebrate.

Then came his first trip back to Utah ... and suddenly, nothing seemed quite as easy.

Kessler finished with two points, seven rebounds, one block and four personal fouls in 28 minutes. Two shot attempts from a player who'd averaged 24 points through his first two games? That's a pretty remarkable disappearance from the Lakers' offense.

Of course, there was plenty of history behind the reunion.

Kessler spent four seasons developing in Utah before the Jazz sent him to Los Angeles in July, receiving unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 alongside swap rights in 2028 and 2030.

The Lakers subsequently committed $130 million over four years to their new center — a significant investment in someone Utah had helped develop.

And Sunday offered an interesting early look at what the Jazz could do without him.

Utah outrebounded Los Angeles 52-31, with rookie Ace Bailey collecting 12 boards, including six on the offensive glass. The Jazz finished with 20 offensive rebounds compared to just five for the Lakers.

For a team that traded away one of the league's better young rebounders, that's quite an encouraging development.

Unfortunately, the Jazz had an entirely different problem.

Doncic erupted for 52 points and eight 3-pointers, while Austin Reaves contributed another 29. Los Angeles connected on 20 shots from beyond the arc compared to Utah's 10 — a 30-point difference from the perimeter alone.

And with Kessler struggling, the Lakers barely missed a beat.

That's what makes Sunday's result particularly frustrating.

Utah controlled the glass, limited its former center and had Los Angeles trailing by 18 after the opening quarter. Lauri Markkanen finished with 28 points, Keyonte George added 24 and Bailey contributed another 17.

The Jazz had done more than enough to put themselves in position for an upset.

They just couldn't finish it.

Now, one disappointing performance doesn't mean Utah won the Kessler trade. His opening two games demonstrated why Los Angeles surrendered such substantial draft capital, and those future picks won't convey for years.

But there's a certain irony in how Sunday's reunion unfolded.

Kessler admitted the occasion overwhelmed him. His former teammates dominated the area of the game where he'd once been most valuable — and nearly sent him home with a loss.

Yet when Los Angeles needed someone to take over, Doncic was there to do exactly that.

Kessler didn't need to rescue the Lakers. He didn't even need another basket.

He'd already gotten something the Jazz couldn't secure, despite controlling the glass and making his return miserable.

Two points. Two shot attempts. Four fouls ... and a win.

Utah spent the night showing it could survive without Walker Kessler.

The Lakers spent it showing they could win without getting much from him at all.