Walker Kessler is already in the conversation for Team USA’s 2028 Olympic roster, and the case for him starts with fit.
By the time the Los Angeles Games open in 2028, the Americans will be operating in a post-LeBron, Steph, and KD era. Team USA has won gold in every Olympics since 2008, and the next group will be charged with keeping that streak alive. Kurt Helin of NBC Sports sees Kessler as one of the players who could help carry that load.
Helin’s list of potential 2028 names includes familiar faces from the 2024 squad, such as Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, and Tyrese Haliburton. But he also points to roster openings that could come from retirements or players simply not returning, and that’s where Kessler enters the picture.
“And then there’s center. Kessler - or the idealized idea of Kessler, the guy the Lakers are paying him to be - would be a great fit, especially since there is no defensive three-second rule in FIBA ball. Duren also would be a fit, although after his recent playoff performance a few executives winced at the idea of him on this big stage - he needs to prove those playoffs were a one-off."
Kessler’s appeal in that setting is straightforward: his game lines up with FIBA rules, and the lack of a defensive three-second violation makes his profile even more attractive. He has also already been around USA Basketball. In 2023, he was part of the FIBA World Championships team that finished fourth, and in 2024 he was included in the Team USA Basketball selection pool for players competing for either the “Select” team or the Olympic team.
In Other News...
Auburn Fans Just Got A Brutal Reminder About Keeping Five Stars
Cam Colemans departure from Auburn already landed with the kind of sting that comes with losing a high-end receiver, but the reminder only got sharper when he surfaced near the top of On3s list of the SECs most impactful transfers for 2026. Chris Low put Coleman No. 1 on that list, a nod to the kind of difference-maker he can be after showing real production in orange and blue at Auburn.
For Auburn fans, the frustrating part is not just that Coleman moved on, but that the fit looks tailor-made for a Texas offense trying to get its passing game back on track. Steve Sarkisian has been openly impressed with Colemans work ethic and potential, which is exactly the kind of buzz that makes a former Tiger feel even harder to replace than he already did. [Read more 🡒]
JJ Faulk Opens Up About Why He Stayed At Auburn
JJ Faulk spent last season redshirting, but the Auburn edge rusher is now in position to push for playing time this fall after a year of learning and building behind the scenes. The Tigers have also seen enough from the young defender to get a better sense of what he can become, especially with new edge coach Coleman Hutzler helping guide his development.
Faulk has been working on sharpening his game and absorbing lessons from both his coach and teammates, which has made this offseason a meaningful one for him. Hutzler has praised Faulks athleticism and maturity, and the bigger question now is how quickly that progress turns into a real role once the season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Suddenly Has One Embarrassing Question It Cant Escape
Alabamas preseason standing is drawing more side-eye than usual, and not just because of the number next to its name. Athlon has the Crimson Tide down at No. 15, a jolt for a program used to being treated like an automatic contender, and the broader SEC picture only sharpens the unease. LSU and Texas are both slotted ahead of Alabama, while Ole Miss is there too, giving the league a hierarchy that does not flatter Kalen DeBoers first full run in Tuscaloosa.
The roster churn only adds to the uncertainty. Alabama is bringing back just five starters from last seasons bowl disappointment, leaving DeBoer to answer the kind of identity questions that usually come with a rebuilding team, not one that still carries championship expectations. Athlon even has the Tide headed to the Gator Bowl against SMU, which is the sort of projection that feels more like a warning sign than a destination for a program that is still supposed to set the standard. [Read more 🡒]