Walker Kessler needed one regular-season game with the Los Angeles Lakers to earn an emphatic endorsement from one of the franchise’s greatest centers.

After Kessler’s opening-night performance against the Golden State Warriors, Shaquille O’Neal offered a declaration that left little room for interpretation.

“Walker Kessler is the best big man in the NBA,” O’Neal said in a clip shared by ESPN.

That is a sweeping assessment after one game. It also reflects how effectively Kessler introduced himself to his new team’s fans.

The Lakers did not need their new center to force offense or stretch beyond his strengths. They needed him to finish the opportunities created around the basket, give their guards a dependable target and establish a presence inside.

Against Golden State, he delivered.

Kessler finished with 26 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in the Lakers’ 127-105 victory. He made all 12 of his field-goal attempts, turning his first regular-season appearance with the team into an unusually efficient scoring night. 

The significance extends beyond the shooting percentage.

With Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves handling the ball, the Lakers have two guards capable of drawing defensive attention and creating openings near the rim. Kessler gives those possessions a clear finishing option.

When he rolls hard, the defense has to account for the pass over the top. If a help defender moves toward him, another teammate can become available. Even possessions that do not end with a Kessler basket can benefit from the attention his movement creates.

That is where his fit becomes particularly valuable.

The Lakers do not need him to manufacture difficult attempts to make an offensive impact. They can use his screening, positioning and finishing to help their established creators produce better shots.

Opening night offered an encouraging example of that relationship.

An endorsement from O’Neal carries particular weight in Los Angeles, where playing center invites comparisons with some of the most accomplished players in basketball history.

Kessler’s responsibility, however, is more immediate than living up to a television declaration.

The Lakers need him to repeat the habits that made the opener productive: run the floor, provide a target, pursue rebounds and remain involved defensively when the offense moves elsewhere.

A perfect shooting night will be difficult to repeat. Consistent effort and reliable decision-making are more useful measures across a season.

There also will be opponents with different coverages, more size available and stronger resistance at the rim. Kessler will have to maintain his influence when the easy finishes become harder to find.

O’Neal’s assessment is his opinion, rather than a conclusion one performance can establish. Still, the opener gave the Lakers a concrete reason for optimism about their new center.

Kessler showed how naturally his strengths can complement the players around him. For a team building familiarity with a new core, that connection matters well beyond the attention generated by one bold quote.