The Los Angeles Lakers paid a steep price to land a new center this offseason. In his first game in a Lakers uniform, he started showing why.
Walker Kessler had 11 points and nine rebounds in his preseason debut Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, as the Lakers lost 101 to 89 to the Golden State Warriors in Las Vegas.
How did Walker Kessler play in his Lakers debut?
Walker Kessler made 4 of 6 shots and added a block and a steal while playing only in the first half.
His impact showed up on the scoreboard. The Lakers outscored Golden State by 15 points in his 16 minutes on the court. In the 32 minutes he sat, the Warriors outscored Los Angeles by 27.
Kessler admitted he was nervous before the game but said playing with his teammates again turned into a blast after such a long layoff. He said the long wait made getting back on the court feel special.
Why was Walker Kessler out so long?
It had been 347 days since Walker Kessler last played in an NBA game. His previous appearance came on Oct. 31 of last season with the Utah Jazz.
In November, he underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, ending his season.
His return was delayed again early in training camp, when he jammed his left pinkie finger on the backboard while trying to block a shot. He missed the first three preseason games, which he described as a precaution.
What did the Lakers give up for Walker Kessler?
Plenty. Los Angeles acquired Kessler in an offseason sign and trade deal, committing two future unprotected picks in the first round and two pick swaps.
The Lakers also signed Kessler, who is 25, to a contract worth $130 million over four years. The deal signals how much the franchise believes in his ability to anchor its defense.
What does the coaching staff expect from Kessler?
One word sums it up. The Lakers head coach said he has challenged Kessler to be relentless, with a nonstop motor on both ends of the floor.
The coach praised Kessler for running the floor, grabbing tough rebounds in traffic and protecting the rim, calling him a great fit for the team.
Walker Kessler said the two settled on that word together. For him, it means crashing the glass every time, controlling the paint and never taking plays off.
Teammates noticed right away. One forward called him an amazing rim protector. Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 28 points and seven assists, and one guard credited Kessler’s hard rolls to the basket for creating open looks from beyond the arc.
What went wrong for the Lakers in the second half?
Things fell apart without Kessler. Los Angeles was outscored 51 to 26 after halftime and committed 18 turnovers.
Backup guards Bronny James, Chris Manon and Jaden Hardy combined for nine of those turnovers. The head coach said he would look at what he could do better, noting that the offense was not good in the second half. He explained that one of those backups will play whenever a primary ball handler is out, because full court pressure is too taxing for Reaves and Doncic to handle alone.
The Lakers were also without five players, including Luka Doncic, who rested. Cameron Carr, Ziaire Williams, Adou Thiero and Collin Sexton were sidelined with minor injuries described as day to day.
Walker Kessler has two more preseason games to build on his debut, including Friday at home against the Denver Nuggets. The regular season opens against the Warriors on Oct. 22.
