Walker Kessler Eager for Lakers Debut Amidst Pre-Game Jitters

Walker Kessler is anticipating pre-game nerves as he prepares for his highly anticipated debut with the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena.

"Couldn't tell you – I haven't played yet," Kessler responded with a laugh following Tuesday's practice, the team's final tune-up before their regular season opener against the Golden State Warriors. Despite not having officially stepped onto the court for the Lakers, the team's prominent offseason acquisition acknowledged the likelihood of pre-game jitters.

This upcoming game marks Kessler's first regular season contest since October 31, 2025, when he played for the Utah Jazz. The 7-foot-2 center underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in November, which kept him sidelined for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. "I'm just so excited to get back out there," he stated. "It's been a long time since I've played in a real NBA game."

Considering Kessler played only five games before his shoulder surgery and participated in just one of Utah's final eight games of the 2024-25 season, it has been a considerable period since he has played basketball consistently. In total, he has appeared in only six regular season games since March 28, 2025.

"It's going to be a lot of fun," Kessler said. "There's going to be a lot of nerves going into the game. But as soon as the whistle blows and you tip the ball, I think the rest of it will take care of itself. Obviously getting back in the rhythm is going to be big for me. But it comes to the reps, and I'm just moving forward with the opportunity and just to play again."

The Lakers hold significant expectations for Kessler, viewing him as a key complementary player alongside star guards Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. This outlook was reflected in their decision to sign him to a four-year, $130 million contract as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Jazz. The trade also involved the Lakers sending unprotected first-round draft picks in 2031 and 2033, along with first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030, to Utah.

The team is adopting a long-term perspective for the 25-year-old center, aiming to develop him into the player they envision. "With him, coaches, players, all that stuff, it's like let's take a big picture view of all of this stuff," coach JJ Redick commented. "We've got to take a big picture approach with certain things. The same way that we got to take a big picture approach with Cam [Carr] and his development – same thing with Walker.

"He's never played with a player like Luka before, right? He's never really been tasked with being the anchor of a defense. These are things that we think he can be [at] All-Star level, and it's going to take time. This is going to be a process with him."