Walker Kessler faces Jazz Sunday after hot Lakers start

The Lakers paid a lot for a center, and 2 games in, he looks worth it. Start with the debut, because it was absurd.

Legion Hoops

@LegionHoops

Walker Kessler in his first two games as a Laker: 22 PTS - 8 REB - 6 BLK 26 PTS - 9 REB - 12/12 FG Worth EVERY penny.

Twelve shots, 12 makes, 26 points. Then he followed it with a full two-way game: 22 points on 10-of-14, 8 boards, 3 steals and 6 blocks, and LA moved to 2-0. According to the league's own account, 10 of those 12 debut makes were dunks, the most by a Laker since Shaq. When a Laker's name sits next to Shaq's this early, people notice.

NBA

@NBA

WALKER KESSLER DOES IT AGAIN 🚨 After going 12-12 from the field with 10 dunks (most by a Laker since Shaq) in his debut, @WalkerKessler13 delivered a dominant all-around performance to push LA to 2-0! 22 PTS | 10-14 FGM | 8 REB | 3 STL | 6 BLK

That's why the 'worth every penny' talk is everywhere. LA got Kessler from Utah this summer in a sign-and-trade on a 4-year, $130 million deal with a player option in year 4 and a full trade kicker. The Lakers also sent the Jazz unprotected firsts in 2031 and 2033 plus pick swaps in 2028 and 2030. That's a big bill for a rim protector, and right now he's covering it.

Next up is the reunion. Utah gets Kessler and the Lakers on Sunday, and the Jazz point guard is the one with the best story. After the Jazz's opener, Keyonte George said Kessler was there for him through his own contract talks this summer, while Kessler was going through a negotiation of his own.

Shreyas Laddha

@shre98

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

@thebenroyer

Lakers center Walker Kessler says that he is “excited to compete” against the Utah Jazz on Sunday in his return to his old franchise: “Coach (Will) Hardy does a great job with that franchise, and all my past teammates, they're great players. Really talented, really competitive.” t.co/AJSEuyXuTu

So they're still close, and Sunday puts them on opposite benches. George didn't pretend it would feel normal. He called it one of the first times he'll face an old teammate who meant that much to the group.

Shreyas Laddha

@shre98

He said that the matchup will be exciting and one of the first couple of times he’s played against an old teammate that’s been valuable to them. He said it’ll be fun and doesn’t know how the city will take it, but (for the) the team it will be fun to compete.

The line to watch is 'doesn't know how the city will take it.' Utah fans watched their front office turn Kessler into a pile of picks and watched him get paid by the Lakers. A cheer, boos or a mix of both are all on the table. Kessler is shooting like he can't miss and blocking everything near him, so if Utah's guards drive on him Sunday, they may wish they hadn't. Will Hardy's group will have to beat a player they know as well as anyone in the league.