Walker Kessler got more than another opportunity to work on his conditioning in the Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason finale. He got a better sense of what his new team will need from him when the regular season begins.

Kessler finished with six points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 31 minutes against the Denver Nuggets on Friday. The extended appearance gave him a chance to experience a heavier workload while continuing to establish his place alongside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.

“For a preseason game, getting a regular-season game feel was good for me,” Kessler said afterward.

The Lakers’ 121-106 loss left plenty to address before opening night. For Kessler, however, there was value in working through a demanding game before the results begin affecting the standings. Los Angeles finished its five-game preseason with a 2-3 record.

Kessler’s finale offered a different challenge from his first preseason appearance.

Against the Golden State Warriors earlier in the week, he recorded 11 points and nine rebounds in 16 minutes. His ability to create opportunities by rolling toward the basket immediately stood out, giving the Lakers an early look at how his presence could help their offense.

Friday required him to sustain his involvement over a much longer stretch. He shot 2 of 8 from the field, showing that his finishing still has room to improve as he settles into game action.

His four assists also illustrated the responsibilities that come with playing center in this offense. Setting a screen and moving toward the rim are only the beginning. When opponents commit additional defenders to Dončić or Reaves, Kessler must recognize where the next opening will develop.

Those reads should become more familiar with repetition. The same applies to knowing when to roll, where to offer an outlet and how to create enough separation for a teammate to attack.

Head coach JJ Redick believes Kessler understands the attention and expectations attached to his new role.

“I think that's why he wanted to be a Laker and why he wanted to be here was because of the fact that there are stakes every single night when you wear a Lakers uniform,” Redick said.

Redick said the two have discussed that adjustment, including a lengthy conversation in recent days. He also acknowledged that understanding the expectations and experiencing them are different challenges.

“How do you navigate that early on? How do you navigate that in your first year? There's no way to predict that because you've never dealt with it before,” Redick said.

That makes patience and communication particularly important. Kessler will be expected to protect the basket, finish possessions with rebounds and help two high-level creators generate efficient offense.

He does not have to master every detail immediately. He does need to keep learning while providing the effort and reliability his position demands.

Friday gave him another opportunity to begin that process under conditions that felt closer to what comes next.