Walker Kessler reveals football equivalent of his big role with Lakers

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When the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Walker Kessler via sign-and-trade with the Utah Jazz, the prevailing thought was they found a true defensive anchor in the paint. Although the Lakers have yet to see Kessler in action as a finger injury has sidelined him for the duration of preseason, the fifth-year big man is still expected to be the team’s focal point defensively.

Walker Kessler’s status for the Lakers’ next preseason game, Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors, is still in question, he understands what his role is going to be on defense when he does make his return to the lineup.

“I’ve been asked to kind of be the defensive anchor,” Kessler told a small group of reporters after Lakers’ practice on Sunday. “That’s going to be my role, is to kind of be the linebacker of the defense and kind of take control of that.”

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Since he was drafted by the Jazz with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Kessler has been among the league’s best defensive players and shot blockers. He holds a career average of 2.4 blocked shots, and he’s averaged a little over two blocks in three of his four years in the league.

The Lakers have lacked a true defensive anchor in the middle since the departure of Anthony Davis. But it’s not just Kessler who has the team excited about their defensive potential. Several of the Lakers’ new wings, including Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle and Quentin Grimes all have strong perimeter defense capabilities as well.

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