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Walker Kessler is an elite rim protector and strong rebounder
-2025 stats, he only played 5 games in the 26 season
Walker Kessler is one of the few excellent true giants in the NBA...
Hyper efficient. 7'5 wingspan and elite timing make for world class rim D. Not an offensive hub, but can make nice passes in the flow of an offense. Imposing on the glass. Real center
Opponent rim % differential from average when contesting (career average):
Walker Kessler: -11.6%
---and for reference---
Victor Wembanyama: -10.7%
Rudy Gobert: -11.2%
Giannis Antetokounmpo: -10.2%
He's 99th percentile in dTS% impact, and last year (2024-25) he was 95th percentile in defensive FGA/100 at 31.8 a game, and he was absolutely swatting shit; he's been top 5 in BPG every year he's played minutes!!! The only guy at value that you could get, who isn't a proven defensive star, and who can replicate what Walker can do on offense (rim diving big) and defense (in that regard) — not including rebounding at all because Walker Kessler is one of the best offensive rebounders in the league — is Daniel Gafford, and that's about it outside of maybe Kornet and Rob Will. Walker Kessler is himmothy, and it's not even a question.
$28M/yr is warranted. Pay the man.
Walker Kessler is reportedly frustrated with the Jazz front office after not receiving an extension offer last summer and over how his upcoming restricted free agency is being handled, per @sam_amick
Difficult day for the Jazz on the optics front: Here you have Darryn Peterson refusing to work out for the team with the No. 2 pick, one year after Ace Bailey did the same (when they had No. 5).
Meanwhile, sources tell @TheAthletic that a player who does want to be there - big man Walker Kessler - is at odds with the front office over his lack of an extension offer last summer and the current handling of his restricted free agency.
More to come…
Best prospects I saw today at @GBCALive at @LakePointSports:
- Jarvis Hayes Jr
- Myles Hayes
- Bradyn Elder
- Braydon Langston
- Gavin Fountain
- Nate Winters
- Brayden Wise
- Tiago Lee
- Brandon Pemberton
- Ty Shine
- Tim Johnson
Episode 63 of Jackpotting Around is live!
We talk about drafting AJ Dybantsa and what type of roster construction ensues afterwards. Free agents + trades?
Then @jpottingaround have a lengthy conversation about Walker Kessler’s future contract extension!
https://t.co/egTFNttKZS
Over the last four seasons (the entire post-Gobert-and-Mitchell era), the Jazz are -5.9 points per 100 possessions (the second worst net rating in the NBA).
In the same span, Utah is +0.9 points per 100 possessions when Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler are both on the floor.