Walker Kessler Explained

Walker Kessler
Position:Center
Height Ft:7
Height In:1
Weight Lbs:245
League:NBA
Team:Utah Jazz
Number:24
Birth Date:26 July 2001
Birth Place:Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
High School:Woodward Academy
(College Park, Georgia)
College:
Draft Year:2022
Draft Round:1
Draft Pick:22
Draft Team:Memphis Grizzlies
Career Start:2022
Years1:–present
Team1:Utah Jazz
Highlights:

Walker Ross Kessler (born July 26, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels and Auburn Tigers.

High school career

Kessler played basketball for Woodward Academy in College Park, Georgia. In his senior season, he averaged 17.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.2 blocks per game, leading his team to its first Class 4A state title. Kessler was named The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Player of the Year, Mr. Georgia Basketball and Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year.[1] [2] He was a McDonald's All-American selection.[3] Kessler competed for Game Elite on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit.[4]

Recruiting

A consensus five-star recruit and one of the top centers in the 2020 class, he committed to playing college basketball for North Carolina over offers from Duke, Michigan, Virginia and Vanderbilt, among others.[5] [6]

College career

North Carolina (2020–2021)

On March 10, 2021, Kessler posted 16 points, 12 rebounds and eight blocks in a 101–59 win over Notre Dame in the second round of the ACC tournament. He set a North Carolina freshman record and an ACC Tournament record for blocks in a game.[7] As a freshman, he averaged 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.

Auburn (2021–2022)

Following the season, Kessler transferred to Auburn, choosing the Tigers over Gonzaga.[8] On December 29, 2021, he posted a triple-double of 16 points, a career-high 11 blocks and 10 rebounds against LSU.[9] On January 25, Kessler received SEC Player of the Week honors following strong performances against Georgia and Kentucky.[10] Kessler was regarded as one of the nations premier shot blockers, setting the Auburn single season block record, leading the nation in blocks and recording more blocks than all but 13 teams.[11] [12] At the conclusion of the regular season, Kessler was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, a member of the All-SEC First Team and a 3rd Team All American.[13] [14] On April 3, 2022, Kessler declared for the 2022 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.[15]

Professional career

Utah Jazz (2022–present)

Kessler was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 22nd overall pick before being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, alongside TyTy Washington, for Jake LaRavia.[16] On July 6, 2022, two weeks after being drafted, Kessler was traded along with Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro, Malik Beasley, four future first round picks, and a pick swap to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Rudy Gobert.[17] On July 9, Kessler signed his rookie scale contract with the Jazz.[18]

On January 16, 2023, Kessler put up a double-double with a career-high 20 points and a career-high 21 rebounds, alongside four assists and two blocks in a 126–125 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.[19] On March 25, 2023, Kessler scored a career-high 31 points to go along with 11 rebounds in a 121–113 loss to the Sacramento Kings.[20] Over the course of his rookie season he appeared in 74 games while averaging 9.2 points per game.[21]

At the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, Kessler was announced as a finalist for the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, ultimately finishing third in the voting.[22]

Career statistics

NBA

|-| style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Utah| 74 || 40 || 23.0 || .720 || .333 || .516 || 8.4 || .9 || .4 || 2.3 || 9.2|-| style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Utah| 64 || 22 || 23.3 || .654 || .211 || .602 || 7.5 || .9 || .5 || 2.4 || 8.1|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 138 || 62 || 23.2 || .690 || .227 || .548 || 8.0 || .9 || .4 || 2.4 || 8.7

College

Led NCAA Division I
|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21| style="text-align:left;"| North Carolina| 29 || 0 || 8.8 || .578 || .250 || .537 || 3.2 || .3 || .5 || .9 || 4.4|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22| style="text-align:left;"| Auburn| 34 || 34 || 25.6 || .608 || .200 || .596 || 8.1 || .9 || 1.1 || style="background:#cfecec;"|4.6* || 11.4|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 63 || 34 || 17.9 || .601 || .204 || .577 || 5.8 || .6 || .8 || 2.9 || 8.2

Personal life

Kessler's father, Chad, and his uncle, Alec, played college basketball at Georgia and were drafted into the NBA before becoming orthopedic surgeons.[23] His brother, Houston, also played basketball at Georgia.[24]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Holcomb . Todd . 7-foot Walker Kessler is Georgia's boys basketball player of the year . . April 12, 2021 . March 26, 2020.
  2. Web site: Smith . Adam . New UNC coach Hubert Davis's pursuit comes up empty as transfer Walker Kessler picks Auburn . . April 13, 2021 . April 13, 2021.
  3. Web site: Green . Tom . A closer look at Walker Kessler and Auburn basketball's retooled roster (so far) . AL.com . April 13, 2021 . April 13, 2021.
  4. Web site: Jordan . Jason . adidas Gauntlet: Elite 2020 center Walker Kessler is wide open despite deep family ties to Georgia . USA Today High School Sports . April 13, 2021 . April 13, 2019.
  5. Carroll . Charlotte . Five-star Center Walker Kessler Commits to North Carolina . . April 13, 2021 . September 22, 2019.
  6. Web site: Wells . Adam . 5-Star C Prospect Walker Kessler Commits to UNC over Duke, Michigan and More . . April 13, 2021 . September 22, 2019.
  7. Web site: Bacot, UNC beat Notre Dame 101–59, advance to ACC quarters . . . April 13, 2021 . March 10, 2021.
  8. Web site: Borzello . Jeff . Sought-after center Walker Kessler, one of the top players in the men's basketball transfer portal, commits to Auburn Tigers . . April 13, 2021 . April 12, 2021.
  9. News: Wilborn . Nubyjas . Walker Kessler gets triple-double in Auburn's 70–55 win and other thoughts from Auburn Arena . December 30, 2021 . . December 29, 2021.
  10. Web site: Jabari Smith, Walker Kessler earn SEC Honors. 25 January 2022.
  11. Web site: Auburn basketball: This Walker Kessler blocks stat is ridiculous. 17 February 2022.
  12. Web site: Walker Kessler breaks Auburn single-season blocks record in win vs. Ole Miss. 24 February 2022.
  13. Web site: Walker Kessler SEC Basketball Defensive Player of the Year .
  14. Web site: The Associated Press Men's All-America Teams . . 15 March 2022 .
  15. Web site: Auburn Tigers star big man Walker Kessler to enter NBA draft. Jonathan. Givony. April 3, 2022. April 3, 2022.
  16. Web site: Timberwolves Acquire Draft Rights to Center Walker Kessler from Memphis Grizzlies . . June 24, 2022. June 28, 2022.
  17. Web site: Minnesota Timberwolves Acquire Center Rudy Gobert from Utah Jazz . 2022-07-06 . www.nba.com . en.
  18. Web site: Utah Jazz Sign Walker Kessler . 2022-07-14 . www.nba.com . en.
  19. Web site: Walker Kessler turns in 20/20 game for Utah Jazz. al.com. Inabinett. Mark. January 16, 2023. January 16, 2023.
  20. Web site: Utah Jazz vs Sacramento Kings Mar 25, 2023 Box Scores . .
  21. Web site: Walker Kessler Career Stats - NBA . 2023-12-21 . ESPN . en.
  22. Web site: Walker Kessler takes third in Rookie of the Year voting. slcdunk.com. Hansen. James. April 26, 2023. April 29, 2023.
  23. Web site: Makrides . Alex . Chad Kessler honored to be named SEC Basketball Legend like his brother . . April 12, 2021 . March 6, 2018.
  24. Funderburk . Kyle . UNC's Walker Kessler Enters Transfer Portal . . April 13, 2021 . March 23, 2021.