Walker Kessler announced himself in the Lakers' preseason opener Tuesday night. The center dropped 11 points on efficient 4-for-6 shooting, grabbed nine rebounds, and added a block and steal. All of this came in just the first half, a limited workload that still turned heads.
Coach JJ Redick is already signaling what he demands from this team. Relentless. That's the word driving the Lakers' approach this season, and Kessler's strong debut suggests he's bought in. The big man's efficiency matters here. The Lakers need rim protection and rebounding, two things Kessler delivered immediately.
Preseason debuts carry limited weight. Everyone knows that. But when a player makes his first impression look this clean, shooting the ball well and defending his area, it registers. Kessler's got something to work with in Los Angeles if he keeps this pace. The Lakers are banking on exactly this kind of performance when games count.