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“Incredible. Luka doesn’t get enough credit for his defense,” Kessler said. “He’s a very high IQ individual when it comes to being on the court. His positional defense with being in the right spot at the right time is really good.”
Though it seems that Doncic himself influenced the decision to retain Reaves in the summer due to their close relationship, according to Lakers insider Jovan Buha . "I've heard that behind the scenes, that has been reported publicly. Luka wanted Austin back. So if Luka wants Austin back, Austin's gonna be back. If Luka wants Walker Kessler, the Lakers went out and got Walker Kessler. If Luka wants some of these role players or at least signs off on them, they get him," he said on his show, Buha's Block.
Law Murray: Asked JJ Redick about Donovan Clingan as it relates to Walker Kessler Redick observed that the Blazers are "in the deepest drop in the NBA" Micah Nori mentioned later than Kessler "does a lot of what Donovan Clingan does for us"
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Shreyas Laddha: Brice Sensabaugh on Walker Kessler: I saw him in Vegas and congratulated him on the contract... he's been having a great start to the season. He also said he's looking forward to facing him on Sunday.
Shreyas Laddha: Talked to Keyonte tonight, who told me that Kessler was here for him during the summer during contract negotiations without knowing that Walker was going through contract negotiations of his own. He said to this day he can call him on a random day and he’ll hit him back.
Benjamin Royer: Austin Reaves on Walker Kessler’s impact to help the Lakers get to 2-0 in this young season: “We wanted him for a reason and he’s shown up big these first two games,” Reaves said. “You couldn’t ask for a better start to the year.”
Benjamin Royer: Guard Collin Sexton played with Walker Kessler in Utah. He enjoyed seeing his former-and-current big man dominate with 10 dunks on Wednesday, he said. “It was one of those games where (he) just let the jitters out. It was pretty cool to see him start his Laker debut like that.”
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“Contrary to my name, I run a lot,” said Walker Kessler, who, per Stathead, set the NBA record for most field goal attempts in a season opener while making all of them. “I’ve always been like that. I think when I run, it keeps me engaged in the game. There’s gonna be times where I’ll run needlessly, just because every once in a while, one might come off the rim, whether on offense or defense. Might get a rebound, or a put-back. And then it opens up a lot of the shooters on the perimeter.”
Benjamin Royer: I asked Lakers center Walker Kessler about what he saw that made him so comfortable out there tonight. “I mean, it's not what I saw. It's what Luka and AR and all the other guys saw, throwing me the ball, honestly,” he said, adding that his mentality is focused on dunking.”
Benjamin Royer: Lakers star Luka Dončić on Walker Kessler’s debut (26 pts on 12-12 shooting, to go with nine rebounds and two blocks) in the season-opening victory over the Golden State Warriors. “Very impressive game from him.” More from Luka on his new franchise center:
The Lakers paid heavily to get Kessler; now, he’s got to deliver. The sentiment from team sources who have been around the Lakers since their trip to Slovenia this summer: If Kessler is good, the Lakers are going to be good. And if he’s great, who knows? It was uneven in the preseason. His debut, delayed because of a jammed pinkie finger, was a success against the center-deprived Golden State Warriors. Game 2 of the preseason was rockier, with Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets blitzing Dončić and Kessler and the Lakers looking out of sync.
