Walker Kessler may be headed for the kind of spotlight he never quite got in Utah.
The Lakers center could be in line for his best NBA season yet, and there’s a real case that the Jazz’s losing environment kept him from showing more. Now that he’s in Los Angeles, the path looks cleaner for him to take another step. But that’s still a projection, not proof.
What is real: ESPN just gave Kessler a notable bump in its Top 100 rankings. He landed at No. 73, which is 25 spots higher than where he sat last year.
That stands out even more because Kessler missed the entire season. Normally, that kind of absence drags a player down, not up.
Just look at how far Markkanen and JJJ slipped on the list after injury-marred seasons.
Still, the timing makes the ranking pretty amusing. Kessler is getting this kind of recognition after leaving the Jazz, not while wearing their uniform. Nobody is openly saying ESPN is leaning toward the Lakers, but it’s hard not to notice the optics.
The obvious question is whether he would have been placed this high if he had stayed in Utah.
The Lakers aren’t a title contender as far as we know, but they are still the Lakers. Like it or not, they remain one of the most recognizable franchises in sports, not just the NBA.
There’s also a basketball reason Kessler may have gotten more respect in this setting. In Utah, he would have been part of a frontcourt with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen, plus time alongside Jusuf Nurkic and Kyle Filipowski. In Los Angeles, his frontcourt partners are Kevon Looney and Sandro Mamushkavelli.
That difference matters. With the Lakers, Kessler should have more room to stand out than he ever would have with the Jazz.
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Jazz Latest Camp Signings Hint At A Familiar Roster Move
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The move fits a pattern the Jazz have used before, giving camp opportunities to players who can help fill out preseason workouts before likely heading back to the Stars for the regular season. These are the sort of signings that rarely alter the main roster picture, but they do offer a useful glimpse at how Utah keeps its pipeline stocked and its camp group competitive. [Read more 🡒]
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Will Hardy framed the move as a milestone for both sides, pointing to the shared commitment between George and the franchise. For a Jazz team trying to establish continuity and identity, the timing matters as much as the contract itself. The bigger question now is how far George can grow into the role Utah clearly believes he can handle, and what this kind of deal says about the direction the rest of the roster might soon take. [Read more 🡒]
Jazz Talent Is Obvious Now Comes The Part Fans Need To See
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Still, the league is waiting for the part that cannot be judged in a summer of optimism. Will Hardy is widely respected, and the Jazz are expected to push past the losing that defined the last few years, but talent alone does not settle how quickly a team turns the corner. For Utah, the question is no longer whether the pieces are interesting. It is whether this group can prove it before the patience around the rebuild starts to wear thin. [Read more 🡒]