JJ Redick Reacts to Walker Kessler’s Big Lakers Debut Against Warriors

Walker Kessler spent the buildup to opening night discussing the expectations that come with playing center for the Los Angeles Lakers. His first regular-season appearance gave him a chance to start answering them.

Kessler scored 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds Wednesday, helping the Lakers defeat the Golden State Warriors 127-105. His finishing gave Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves a dependable target around the basket and offered an encouraging first look at their partnership.

Afterward, Lakers coach JJ Redick acknowledged the significance of the moment for his new center.

“Whether he had played for the last year and a half or not, you know, I think it's a big deal when it's your first game as a Laker,” Redick said. “We've had conversations. He understands what this is and the pressures that come with it. I think it was a good opening statement for him.”

Kessler finished with 10 dunks, the most by a Laker in a game since Shaquille O’Neal. Rather than making the performance about his own scoring, he credited the teammates delivering the ball.

“I mean, it's not what I saw. That's what Luka and AR and all the other guys saw throwing me the ball, honestly,” Kessler said.

His explanation centered on positioning, presenting a target and finishing aggressively. Those responsibilities can sound straightforward, but executing them consistently gives ball handlers more options when a defense commits to stopping the ball.

For Dončić and Reaves, Kessler’s presence creates a destination for passes near the rim. For the players stationed outside, his movement can help create room when defenders turn their attention toward the basket.

Kessler also emphasized running the floor, explaining that the activity keeps him involved even when a possession does not initially appear headed his way. An extra sprint can become a rebound, a putback or an opportunity for someone else.

That approach gives L.A. something useful beyond the opening-night scoring total: a center willing to keep moving without needing a play called for him.

The debut also represented an early test of how Kessler would respond to the attention surrounding his arrival. He acknowledged that feeling comfortable with that attention has required work.

When he was younger, Kessler said, pressure and outside opinions could influence how he felt. His approach now centers on faith, gratitude and recognizing the opportunity in front of him.

That perspective matters over a season in which his performances will receive close scrutiny. Wednesday supplied an encouraging result, but his explanation offered insight into how he intends to handle the less comfortable nights as well.

Redick’s assessment left room for both the accomplishment and the work ahead. Calling it an opening statement recognized that Kessler delivered while keeping one game in perspective.

The challenge now is repeating the habits behind it. Running consistently, finding space and finishing through traffic will remain important even when opponents adjust.

For one night, those habits helped turn the anticipation surrounding Kessler’s arrival into production. The Lakers got an immediate example of how their new center can complement their two leading guards.