Austin Reaves Reacts to Walker Kessler’s Strong Lakers Debut vs. Warriors

Austin Reaves needed only one preseason game alongside Walker Kessler to see reasons for optimism.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ new center finished with 11 points, nine rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block in 16 minutes during Tuesday’s 101-89 loss to the Golden State Warriors in Las Vegas. Reaves led L.A. with 28 points, seven assists and four rebounds in 25 minutes.

The result left the Lakers with work to do, but Reaves came away encouraged by Kessler’s first appearance.

“He was really good in the minutes he had. He’s gonna continue to get better every single game,” Reaves said in his postgame interview with Spectrum SportsNet.

For a team still building familiarity with its new center, that assessment matters. Kessler does not need a large number of touches to contribute. His ability to finish possessions, collect rebounds and provide a target near the basket gives the Lakers another way to support their guards.

Reaves and Kessler connected for a pair of pick-and-roll baskets against Golden State, offering an early glimpse of how the two can work together.

That partnership gives Reaves another decision to present to a defense. When Kessler rolls toward the basket, the defender guarding the ball must account for both the drive and the pass. Help from elsewhere can create an opening for another teammate.

The next step is making those reads more consistent. Reaves must learn where Kessler prefers the ball, while Kessler must develop a feel for when his guard wants a screen, a roll or additional space to attack.

Tuesday provided a productive starting point. It also gave the Lakers something more useful than practice projections: possessions against another team that they can review and build upon.

Reaves’ comments reflected that process. He praised what Kessler already provided while leaving room for improvement as their shared minutes increase.

Kessler’s debut came without Luka Dončić, who rested against the Warriors. A jammed left pinkie had kept Kessler out of the Lakers’ first three preseason games.

That means L.A. still has important combinations to evaluate. Playing alongside Reaves was one step; establishing timing with both of the team’s primary creators will be another.

The Lakers also need to carry their promising stretches through a full game. They led Golden State 63-50 at halftime before being outscored 51-26 after the break.

Kessler’s debut cannot answer every question about the rotation or erase that second-half performance.

It did, however, give Reaves a reason to believe their partnership can become more productive. For the Lakers, turning that encouraging first impression into dependable production is the next assignment.