The Lakers haven’t seen Walker Kessler on the floor this preseason, but JJ Redick doesn’t sound alarmed.
Kessler sat out Thursday night’s third exhibition game, the same night Austin Reaves made his preseason debut for Los Angeles. That absence has naturally stirred some concern, especially since Kessler is the team’s major offseason addition and fans are already wondering whether the finger issue could linger into the regular season.
Redick tried to calm that down. “It’s not concerning. He’ll play in the preseason,” Redick said, per Lakers insider Jovan Buha.
That’s a welcome update for a player who has already dealt with a major injury in recent memory. Kessler appeared in only five games last season before a shoulder injury, a torn labrum, ended his year and led to season-ending surgery. The current finger problem is separate from that setback.
Los Angeles still has two preseason games left after Thursday’s matchup with the Kings, with exhibitions against the Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets on the schedule before the regular-season opener against the Warriors.
The Nuggets game could end up being the cleanest spot for Kessler to make his first Lakers appearance. Against Nikola Jokic, his rim protection would fit naturally into the kind of test the Lakers may want before the games start counting.
The front office made a massive bet on Kessler this offseason, signing him to a four-year, $130 million deal after sending two unprotected first-round picks - 2031 and 2033 - plus pick swaps in 2028 and 2030 to the Utah Jazz in a sign-and-trade.
That kind of investment comes with expectations, and Los Angeles is clearly hoping Kessler can help solve its problems inside. In his last full season, 2024-25, he averaged 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.
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