Luka Doncic: Walker Kessler will be an 'amazing fit' for Lakers
· Yahoo Sports
The Los Angeles Lakers held Media Day in advance of training camp on Monday at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo. The mood was positive and upbeat, as many of the team's players seemed excited and were looking forward to the new season.
The team has nine new players, and of them, center Walker Kessler is expected to have the biggest impact. Los Angeles gave up two future first-round draft picks and two pick swaps to get Kessler while signing the shot-blocking master to a four-year, $130 million contract. Some feel the franchise gave up too much to get him, but others are positive he will live up to his price tag.
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One reason the Lakers invested so much in Kessler is that Luka Doncic wanted them to get a prominent center this summer. On Monday, Doncic said Kessler will be an "amazing fit" for the Lakers and greatly help the team, and he admitted that going up against Kessler in the past was difficult, per Khobi Price of the California Post.
Luka Doncic, when asked about why/how he identified Walker Kessler as a player he wanted on the Lakers, says Walker was always tough to play against. Added that Walker will be an "amazing fit for us" and "he’s going to help us a lot.”
— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) September 28, 2026
Kessler isn't just a great shot-blocker -- he's also a fantastic rebounder and lob threat. Plus, at age 25, he still has some upward potential on the offensive end, especially after experimenting with some 3-point shooting early last season before he was shut down for the year due to a torn labrum.
He said on Monday that his surgically repaired shoulder is fully healthy and feeling even better than it was before he sustained his injury.
Walker Kessler says he is 110% healthy and his surgically repaired shoulder is feeling better than it ever has before.
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) September 28, 2026
Kessler has career averages of 9.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 25.3 minutes a game through four seasons. He previously played on a Utah Jazz team that was allegedly tanking, but he's now on a Lakers team that expects to make the playoffs.
This article originally appeared on Lakers Wire: Luka Doncic: Walker Kessler will be an 'amazing fit' for Lakers