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Walker Kessler

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Walker Kessler
No. 24 – Utah Jazz
PositionCenter
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born(2001-07-26)July 26, 2001(age 22)
Atlanta, Georgia,U.S.
Listed height7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
Listed weight245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High schoolWoodward Academy
(College Park, Georgia)
College
NBA draft2022:1st round, 22nd overall pick
Selected by theMemphis Grizzlies
Playing career2022–present
Career history
2022–presentUtah Jazz
Career highlights and awards
StatsEdit this at Wikidataat NBA.com
StatsEdit this at Wikidataat Basketball-Reference.com

Walker Ross Kessler(born July 26, 2001) is an American professionalbasketballplayer for theUtah Jazzof theNational Basketball Association(NBA). He playedcollege basketballfor theNorth Carolina Tar HeelsandAuburn Tigers.

High school career

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Kessler played basketball forWoodward AcademyinCollege Park, Georgia.In his senior season, he averaged 17.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.2 blocks per game, leading his team to its first Class 4A state title. Kessler was namedThe Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionPlayer of the Year,Mr. Georgia Basketballand GeorgiaGatorade Player of the Year.[1][2]He was aMcDonald's All-Americanselection.[3]Kessler competed for Game Elite on theAmateur Athletic Unioncircuit.[4]

Recruiting

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A consensus five-star recruit and one of the topcentersin the 2020 class, he committed to playing college basketball forNorth Carolinaover offers fromDuke,Michigan,VirginiaandVanderbilt,among others.[5][6]

UScollege sports recruitinginformation for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Walker Kessler
C 		Newnan, GA Woodward Academy(GA) 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Sep 22, 2019
Recruiting star ratings:Scout:N/ARivals:5/5 stars247Sports:5/5 starsESPN:5/5 starsESPN grade: 94
Overall recruiting rankings:Rivals:24247Sports:28ESPN:14
  • Note:In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "North Carolina 2020 Basketball Commitments".Rivals.com.RetrievedApril 13,2021.
  • "2020 North Carolina Tar Heels Recruiting Class".ESPN.com.RetrievedApril 13,2021.
  • "2020 Team Ranking".Rivals.com.RetrievedApril 13,2021.

College career

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North Carolina (2020–2021)

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On March 10, 2021, Kessler posted 16 points, 12 rebounds and eight blocks in a 101–59 win overNotre Damein the second round of theACC tournament.He set a North Carolina freshman record and an ACC Tournament record for blocks in a game.[7]As a freshman, he averaged 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.[8]

Auburn (2021–2022)

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Following the season, Kessler transferred toAuburn,choosing the Tigers overGonzaga.[8]On December 29, 2021, he posted atriple-doubleof 16 points, a career-high 11 blocks and 10 rebounds againstLSU.[9]On January 25, Kessler received SEC Player of the Week honors following strong performances againstGeorgiaandKentucky.[10]Kessler was regarded as one of the nations premier shot blockers, setting the Auburn single season block record, leading the nation in blocks and recording more blocks than all but 13 teams.[11][12]At the conclusion of the regular season, Kessler was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, a member of the All-SEC First Team and a3rd Team All American.[13][14]On April 3, 2022, Kessler declared for the2022 NBA draft,forgoing his remaining college eligibility.[15]

Professional career

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Utah Jazz (2022–present)

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Kessler was selected by theMemphis Grizzlieswith the 22nd overall pick before being traded to theMinnesota Timberwolves,alongsideTyTy Washington,forJake LaRavia.[16]On July 6, 2022, two weeks after being drafted, Kessler was traded along withPatrick Beverley,Jarred Vanderbilt,Leandro Bolmaro,Malik Beasley,four future first round picks, and a pick swap to theUtah Jazzin exchange forRudy Gobert.[17]On July 9, Kessler signed his rookie scale contract with the Jazz.[18]

On January 16, 2023, Kessler put up a double-double with a career-high 20 points and a career-high 21 rebounds, alongside four assists and two blocks in a 126–125 win over theMinnesota Timberwolves.[19]On March 25, 2023, Kessler scored a career-high 31 points to go along with 11 rebounds in a 121–113 loss to theSacramento Kings.[20]Over the course of his rookie season he appeared in 74 games while averaging 9.2 points per game.[21]

At the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, Kessler was announced as a finalist for theNBA Rookie of the Year Award,ultimately finishing third in the voting.[22]

Career statistics

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Legend
GP Games played GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
FG% Field goalpercentage 3P% 3-point field goalpercentage FT% Free throwpercentage
RPG Reboundsper game APG Assistsper game SPG Stealsper game
BPG Blocksper game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

NBA

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2022–23 Utah 74 40 23.0 .720 .333 .516 8.4 .9 .4 2.3 9.2
2023–24 Utah 64 22 23.3 .654 .211 .602 7.5 .9 .5 2.4 8.1
Career 138 62 23.2 .690 .227 .548 8.0 .9 .4 2.4 8.7

College

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* Led NCAA Division I
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020–21 North Carolina 29 0 8.8 .578 .250 .537 3.2 .3 .5 .9 4.4
2021–22 Auburn 34 34 25.6 .608 .200 .596 8.1 .9 1.1 4.6* 11.4
Career 63 34 17.9 .601 .204 .577 5.8 .6 .8 2.9 8.2

Personal life

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Kessler's father, Chad, and his uncle,Alec,played college basketball atGeorgiaand were drafted into the NBA before becomingorthopedic surgeons.[23]His brother, Houston, also played basketball at Georgia.[24]

References

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  1. ^Holcomb, Todd (March 26, 2020)."7-foot Walker Kessler is Georgia's boys basketball player of the year".The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.RetrievedApril 12,2021.
  2. ^Smith, Adam (April 13, 2021)."New UNC coach Hubert Davis's pursuit comes up empty as transfer Walker Kessler picks Auburn".Times-News.RetrievedApril 13,2021.
  3. ^Green, Tom (April 13, 2021)."A closer look at Walker Kessler and Auburn basketball's retooled roster (so far)".AL.com.RetrievedApril 13,2021.
  4. ^Jordan, Jason (April 13, 2019)."adidas Gauntlet: Elite 2020 center Walker Kessler is wide open despite deep family ties to Georgia".USA Today High School Sports.RetrievedApril 13,2021.
  5. ^Carroll, Charlotte (September 22, 2019)."Five-star Center Walker Kessler Commits to North Carolina".Sports Illustrated.RetrievedApril 13,2021.
  6. ^Wells, Adam (September 22, 2019)."5-Star C Prospect Walker Kessler Commits to UNC over Duke, Michigan and More".Bleacher Report.RetrievedApril 13,2021.
  7. ^"Bacot, UNC beat Notre Dame 101–59, advance to ACC quarters".USA Today.Associated Press.March 10, 2021.RetrievedApril 13,2021.
  8. ^abBorzello, Jeff (April 12, 2021)."Sought-after center Walker Kessler, one of the top players in the men's basketball transfer portal, commits to Auburn Tigers".ESPN.RetrievedApril 13,2021.
  9. ^Wilborn, Nubyjas (December 29, 2021)."Walker Kessler gets triple-double in Auburn's 70–55 win and other thoughts from Auburn Arena".Al.com.RetrievedDecember 30,2021.
  10. ^"Jabari Smith, Walker Kessler earn SEC Honors".25 January 2022.
  11. ^"Auburn basketball: This Walker Kessler blocks stat is ridiculous".17 February 2022.
  12. ^"Walker Kessler breaks Auburn single-season blocks record in win vs. Ole Miss".24 February 2022.
  13. ^"Walker Kessler SEC Basketball Defensive Player of the Year".
  14. ^"The Associated Press Men's All-America Teams".Associated Press.15 March 2022.
  15. ^Givony, Jonathan (April 3, 2022)."Auburn Tigers star big man Walker Kessler to enter NBA draft".RetrievedApril 3,2022.
  16. ^"Timberwolves Acquire Draft Rights to Center Walker Kessler from Memphis Grizzlies".NBA.com.June 24, 2022.RetrievedJune 28,2022.
  17. ^"Minnesota Timberwolves Acquire Center Rudy Gobert from Utah Jazz".www.nba.com.Retrieved2022-07-06.
  18. ^"Utah Jazz Sign Walker Kessler".www.nba.com.Retrieved2022-07-14.
  19. ^Inabinett, Mark (January 16, 2023)."Walker Kessler turns in 20/20 game for Utah Jazz".al.com.RetrievedJanuary 16,2023.
  20. ^"Utah Jazz vs Sacramento Kings Mar 25, 2023 Box Scores".NBA.com.
  21. ^"Walker Kessler Career Stats - NBA".ESPN.Retrieved2023-12-21.
  22. ^Hansen, James (April 26, 2023)."Walker Kessler takes third in Rookie of the Year voting".slcdunk.com.RetrievedApril 29,2023.
  23. ^Makrides, Alex (March 6, 2018)."Chad Kessler honored to be named SEC Basketball Legend like his brother".The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.RetrievedApril 12,2021.
  24. ^Funderburk, Kyle (March 23, 2021)."UNC's Walker Kessler Enters Transfer Portal".Sports Illustrated.RetrievedApril 13,2021.
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