Walker Kessler Speaks on Returning to Court After Nearly Year-Long Absence

Walker Kessler’s first game with the Los Angeles Lakers meant more than getting acquainted with a new uniform.

After approximately 11½ months without appearing in an NBA game, Kessler returned Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors in Las Vegas. He delivered 11 points, nine rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block in 16 minutes during the Lakers’ 101-89 preseason loss.

The numbers offered an encouraging introduction. His reaction afterward explained what the opportunity meant to him.

“It was a lot of fun being out there again. You know, it’s been so long,” Kessler said in his postgame interview with Spectrum SportsNet.

For Kessler, the evening was a chance to move beyond waiting and start contributing alongside his new teammates. For L.A., it provided an initial look at how its new center can influence possessions on both ends.

Kessler made four of his six shots and finished one rebound short of a double-double despite playing fewer than 16 full minutes.

That production illustrated a useful role for him in the Lakers’ offense. He can finish opportunities created by the guards without requiring the team to organize every possession around getting him the ball.

His rebounding offers another route to contributing. Ending defensive possessions and pursuing missed shots are responsibilities that remain valuable regardless of who is handling the offense.

The challenge now is maintaining those contributions as his workload grows. One preseason appearance can show where a player fits, but repeated minutes help establish how reliably that fit holds up.

Kessler also credited the group’s offensive cooperation.

“We shared the ball really well tonight,” he said.

That assessment gives the Lakers something to build upon. A center’s opportunities often depend on the decisions around him, and continued ball movement can help Kessler find scoring chances within the flow of the offense.

Kessler’s return had been delayed by a jammed left pinkie suffered during training camp. He injured the finger against the backboard while attempting to block a shot and missed the Lakers’ first three preseason games.

Getting him into game action allows the Lakers to begin evaluating combinations they had been unable to use during those exhibitions.

There is still more to see. Luka Dončić rested Tuesday, leaving Kessler’s game partnership with the Lakers’ other primary playmaker for another opportunity.

The final score also kept the debut from becoming a complete celebration. L.A. built a 63-50 halftime advantage but scored only 26 points after the break as Golden State rallied.

The Lakers must address that uneven performance as their preparation continues.

Kessler, meanwhile, cleared an important personal step. He was back on the floor, contributing and enjoying the game again. His next task is building on those minutes as the team works toward a more consistent performance.