Walker Kessler missed basketball. Now he says he sees it a little differently.
The Lakers center appeared in only five games for the Jazz last season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. It was the first extended absence of his NBA career.
“Sitting out a whole year definitely puts a lot of things in perspective,” Kessler told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, via Ryan Ward of Lakers On SI. “The heart grows fond in absence. I think falling in love with this game again and just realizing I just want to go win. I just want to play to win.”
Kessler is healthy now and preparing for a fresh start in Los Angeles, where he will be asked to provide what the Lakers were missing at center last season.
The fit alongside Luka Doncic is fairly easy to understand. Kessler can screen, roll, finish lobs and protect the rim. Doncic has spent years making life easier for centers who do those things.
Anything Kessler supplies from the perimeter would be a bonus. He shot 75 percent from beyond the arc last season, but that came during a five-game sample. Let’s probably hold off on calling him the next Dirk Nowitzki.
The Lakers don’t need that, anyway. They need Kessler healthy, active around the basket and capable of cleaning up mistakes defensively.
His first preseason opportunity is scheduled for Oct. 5 against the Kings. After spending nearly an entire season watching, simply being back on the floor will qualify as a meaningful beginning.
The rest of the expectations can wait until then.
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