Walker Kessler got an early taste of the Los Angeles spotlight Thursday night, taking the field at Dodger Stadium for one of his most visible public appearances since joining the Lakers.
That attention is only expected to intensify for Kessler, the Lakers’ headline offseason addition, as anticipation builds toward the start of the 2026-27 NBA season.
During the Dodgers’ “Lakers Night” festivities before their win over the St. Louis Cardinals, Kessler stepped onto UNIQLO Field wearing a custom No. 14 Dodgers jersey with his name across the back. His ceremonial first pitch did its job, making it across home plate.
Kessler later leaned into the moment on social media, commenting “ITFDB” — short for “It’s Time For Dodger Baseball” — on a Dodgers Instagram collaboration featuring him and the Lakers.
For a new Lakers big man trying to connect with Los Angeles fans, it was a polished first pitch in more ways than one.
But for Kessler to further ingratiate himself to Los Angeles fans, he’ll need to live up to the investment the Lakers made to acquire him from the Jazz in a sign-and-trade in July.
It’s a challenge Kessler is ready for.
As a reminder, the Lakers not only sent the Jazz two of their unprotected first-round draft picks (2031 and 2033), which were the last two first-rounders they had full control over to trade, along with two first-round pick swaps (2028 and 2030) to secure Kessler, but they also signed the 7-foot-2 big man to a four-year, $130 million contract.
The deal starts with a $30.1 million salary for 2026-27, making him the 10th-highest-paid center in the league (restricted free-agent big man Jalen Duren’s 2026-27 salary from his contract will likely meet or surpass Kessler’s).
A significant investment for a player who hasn’t made an All-Star, All-NBA or All-Defense team, and is coming off playing five games after having left shoulder surgery in November.
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“It definitely makes you feel a certain way when you know an organization believes in you,” Kessler said in July. “And I think what they’ve invested, they’re showing that belief in a monetary value, not just with money, but like you said, assets. And for me, I’m somebody that if I know that they have that belief in me, I’m gonna run through a brick wall for them. That’s just how I’ve been wired my whole life, and it definitely makes it a lot easier to go out there and compete for a team.”
The tasks for Kessler to live up to the hype once the spotlight is back on him and the Lakers on the court starting next month aren’t complicated.
The first area is staying healthy, especially with minimal traditional big-man depth behind him and Kevon Looney, which should be easier for Kessler after suffering a season-ending torn posterior labrum in his left shoulder that required surgery.
His shoulder “feels better than it’s ever felt in my life,” with Kessler sharing he originally suffered the injury in college but played through it before it got worse over the previous year. Outside of last season, Kessler played 192 regular-season games (65 games per season) in his first three years with the Jazz — with many absences being the result of Utah’s late-season tanking.
The Lakers will also need Kessler to continue the progress he’s made offensively, which included glimpses of being a 3-point shooting threat last season. He attempted 1.6 3s per game in 2025-26 compared with 0.3 3s per game in his first three seasons.
But ultimately, the Lakers will need Kessler to continue to be one of the league’s best rim protectors — which he has been since being the No. 22 pick in 2022.
The Lakers’ path to having a respectable — or even above-average — defense rests on Kessler fortifying his squad on that end of the floor with shot-blocking, rim protection and versatility.
But as for Kessler the human being, the last few months have been significant for him for multiple reasons.
Not only did he join the Lakers on a big contract but he also got engaged in July to 2025 Miss America Abbie Stockard.
Kessler will remain teammates with fellow Lakers acquisition Collin Sexton after they were on the Jazz together for three seasons (2022-25) and be teammates with Lakers star guard Austin Reaves again after they played for Team USA during the 2023 World Cup.
“He’s a big, goofy dude that just enjoys life and has fun,” Reaves said of Kessler. “Obviously you see what he does basketball-wise and how he impacts the game. He’s good defensively, good in the pocket. Just a smart player. So, I’m happy to have him on the team and get to play with him.”