Walker Kessler told Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times that he is treating the weight of following the franchise’s Hall of Fame centers as an opportunity rather than a burden, in a story carried by Yahoo Sports.
He makes his regular-season debut for the Lakers on Wednesday night against the Golden State Warriors. The opener tips off at 7 p.m. PT at Crypto.com Arena on ESPN.
The franchise has retired the jerseys of five great centers: George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal and Pau Gasol.
Kessler, who wears No. 14, said “there’s a certain legacy that comes with being a Laker big,” but that he would rather focus on the opportunity. He told the Times that pressure tends to take away the joy he plays with when he’s at his best.
The Lakers acquired Kessler from the Utah Jazz in a sign-and-trade this offseason. They sent Utah two first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps, then signed him to a four-year contract worth about $130 million.
Kessler said it was humbling that Luka Dončić asked for him by name.
JJ Redick said he has had several conversations with Kessler about the expectations, including a long one in the days before the opener.
“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 after the preseason loss to Denver.
Over his first four NBA seasons, Kessler averaged 9.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.2 assists. He started 125 of his 201 games. A shoulder injury limited him to five games in 2025-26.
The Lakers Paid for a Role Kessler Has Never Held
Most of the coverage frames the pressure question around expectations, but the bigger issue is availability. The Lakers gave up four first-round assets and committed about $130 million to a center who played five games in 2025-26 and started only about 62 percent of his career games.
They are paying for a projection: a full-time starter and lob partner for Dončić, a role Kessler has filled only in stretches.
The retired jerseys matter less than whether his shoulder holds up across 82 games. With that much draft capital already gone, the Lakers have few ways to find a replacement if it doesn’t.
The Warriors Get the First Look Tonight
Kessler’s regular-season debut comes Wednesday against Golden State. He appeared in two of the Lakers’ preseason games after missing the first three.
The two teams play again on Oct. 30 at Chase Center in an NBA Cup group game.
Source: Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times
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