{"time":1792992001608,"blocks":[{"id":"a793478b-eeb6-4f68-90fc-a12ed866874d","type":"video","data":{"url":"https://media-cdn.roundtable.io/media-service/videos/f9d93c5e-cd32-470e-8eea-dbbaef86ea8c/mp4","caption":"","autoplay":false,"controls":true,"muted":false,"stretched":true,"width":0,"height":0,"image":{"url":"https://media-cdn.roundtable.io/media-service/videos/f9d93c5e-cd32-470e-8eea-dbbaef86ea8c/thumbnail"},"cdn":{"videoId":"f9d93c5e-cd32-470e-8eea-dbbaef86ea8c","libraryId":"372172","collectionId":"30032062-eefd-4041-a355-12ad05bc987b","cdnBaseUrl":"https://vz-052fc010-b27.b-cdn.net","mp4Url":"https://media-cdn.roundtable.io/media-service/videos/f9d93c5e-cd32-470e-8eea-dbbaef86ea8c/mp4","thumbnailUrl":"https://media-cdn.roundtable.io/media-service/videos/f9d93c5e-cd32-470e-8eea-dbbaef86ea8c/thumbnail","previewAnimationUrl":"https://vz-052fc010-b27.b-cdn.net/f9d93c5e-cd32-470e-8eea-dbbaef86ea8c/preview.webp"}}},{"id":"0b-kU5zXIZ","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"When the Los Angeles Lakers traded for Walker Kessler this offseason, many were concerned that LA may have committed to an overpay by exchanging two future first-round picks and two future first-round pick swaps."}},{"id":"YIFKzqgxB6","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"It's only the first week of the NBA season, but Kessler quickly proved those doubts wrong with his impressive play on the floor. While some fans were surprised at how quickly Kessler adapted to the Lakers and became a big-three option, one member of the Lakers certainly wasn't."}},{"id":"h5k2K-T2lh","type":"image","data":{"caption":"Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images","withBorder":false,"withBackground":false,"size":"medium","alignment":"center","linkUrl":"","file":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/b7f54823-c183-4480-809d-df317f957ed9.jpeg"}}},{"id":"u9KspbTjwZ","type":"header","data":{"text":"Luka Doncic Shares Thoughts on Walker Kessler's Impact","level":1,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"KNW-Ds_gIS","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"After the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the LA Clippers on Friday night, Doncic was asked if he was surprised at all about Kessler's immediate impact with the team - to put it simply, he wasn't."}},{"id":"K_U27FxOlS","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"\"Unbelievable, honestly,\" Doncic said. \"We knew what we were getting. I'm not surprised by how he's playing. He knows how to play this game, he played for a long time and I'm not surprised, but the fact that he's doing it, just proving a lot of people wrong, is unbelievable.\""}},{"id":"4YYalfIvPd","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"In only a few short games, Doncic and Kessler have been the perfect duo on the court. Kessler has been a fantastic lob threat who constantly keeps defenses honest. There's a reason why Kessler had 10 dunks in his regular-season debut with the Lakers against the Golden State Warriors."}},{"id":"si35iKuw__","type":"image","data":{"caption":"Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images","withBorder":false,"withBackground":false,"size":"medium","alignment":"center","linkUrl":"","file":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/c7fec222-42fd-40c7-b20c-0aa4a6952a22.jpeg"}}},{"id":"LDkHvEzdak","type":"header","data":{"text":"How Good Has Walker Kessler Been?","level":1,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"PrRIURLNoT","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Simply put, Walker Kessler has been a revelation for the Lakers, both offensively and defensively. In his first two games with the team, he's been a +42 on the court, averaging 24.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.0 blocks, and 1.5 steals on 84.6% shooting from the field."}},{"id":"00WGN9lpKw","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Kessler's ability to convert has been second to none, and it feels like every single time he's around the rim has been an automatic basket."}},{"id":"eLVAVShyci","type":"embed","data":{"service":"youtube","source":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QB5WwQnWos&pp=ygUZd2Fsa2VyIGtlc3NsZXIgaGlnaGxpZ2h0cw%3D%3D","embed":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/0QB5WwQnWos?","width":580,"height":320,"caption":"","meta":{"title":"YouTube","description":"Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.","image":{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/img/desktop/yt_1200.png","type":"png"}}}},{"id":"fQWwDC_1tA","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"In his debut game against the Warriors, Kessler shot a perfect 12-for-12 from the field, but also recorded six blocks and three steals. He became only the 8th player in Lakers history to record six blocks and three steals in a game. "}},{"id":"zb1hRAnHy8","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The only other ones to do so were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Anthony Davis, Elmore Smith, Shaquille O'Neal, Wilt Chamberlain, Vlade Divac, and Elden Campbell."}},{"id":"WNqPwksCvm","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"While it's still very early in the season, that's still some amazing company for Kessler to be in after only one game. Granted, no one is expecting him to be as good as Kareem, Shaq, or Wilt, but it genuinely feels like the Los Angeles Lakers finally have their starting center."}},{"id":"HGD1A0LJ3J","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"After years of struggling to find a legitimate starting center after foolishly trading away Ivica Zubac, the Los Angeles Lakers have a bona fide big man, and his name is Walker Kessler. "}},{"id":"gW4w34E7N0","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Granted, Kessler struggled against the Utah Jazz on Sunday night, but he'd be the first to tell fans that he let his emotions of returning to Utah get the best of him."}},{"id":"8AQMD3gNOq","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Hopefully, he can keep up the same progress as the season progresses."}}],"version":"2.31.6"}

LeBron James Dominates as Lakers Eliminate Rockets in Game 6