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Walker Kessler

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Walker Kessler
Kessler with Auburn in 2022
No. 24 – Utah Jazz
PositionCenter
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2001-07-26) July 26, 2001 (age 23)
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 the Memphis Grizzlies
Playing career2022–present
Career history
2022–presentUtah Jazz
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Walker Ross Kessler (born July 26, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels and Auburn Tigers.

Early life

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Kessler played basketball for Woodward Academy in College 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 named The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Player of the Year, Mr. Georgia Basketball and Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year.[1][2] He was a McDonald's All-American selection.[3] Kessler competed for Game Elite on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit.[4]

A consensus five-star recruit and one of the top centers in the 2020 class, he committed to playing college basketball for North Carolina over offers from Duke, Michigan, Virginia and Vanderbilt, among others.[5][6]

US college sports recruiting information 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: Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 94
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 24  247Sports: 28  ESPN: 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. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  • "2020 North Carolina Tar Heels Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  • "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved April 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 over Notre Dame in the second round of the ACC 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 to Auburn, choosing the Tigers over Gonzaga.[8] On December 29, 2021, he posted a triple-double of 16 points, a career-high 11 blocks and 10 rebounds against LSU.[9] On January 25, Kessler received SEC Player of the Week honors following strong performances against Georgia and Kentucky.[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 a 3rd Team All American.[13][14] On April 3, 2022, Kessler declared for the 2022 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.[15]

Professional career

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Kessler was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 22nd overall pick before being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, alongside TyTy Washington, for Jake LaRavia.[16] On July 6, 2022, two weeks after being drafted, Kessler was traded along with Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro, Malik Beasley, four future first round picks, and a pick swap to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Rudy 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 the Minnesota 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 the Sacramento 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 the NBA 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 goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per 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 at Georgia and were drafted into the NBA before becoming orthopedic 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. Retrieved April 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. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  3. ^ Green, Tom (April 13, 2021). "A closer look at Walker Kessler and Auburn basketball's retooled roster (so far)". AL.com. Retrieved April 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. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  5. ^ Carroll, Charlotte (September 22, 2019). "Five-star Center Walker Kessler Commits to North Carolina". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  6. ^ Wells, Adam (September 22, 2019). "5-Star C Prospect Walker Kessler Commits to UNC over Duke, Michigan and More". Bleacher Report. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  7. ^ "Bacot, UNC beat Notre Dame 101–59, advance to ACC quarters". USA Today. Associated Press. March 10, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Borzello, 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. Retrieved April 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. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  10. ^ "Jabari Smith, Walker Kessler earn SEC Honors". January 25, 2022.
  11. ^ "Auburn basketball: This Walker Kessler blocks stat is ridiculous". February 17, 2022.
  12. ^ "Walker Kessler breaks Auburn single-season blocks record in win vs. Ole Miss". February 24, 2022.
  13. ^ "Walker Kessler SEC Basketball Defensive Player of the Year".
  14. ^ "The Associated Press Men's All-America Teams". Associated Press. March 15, 2022.
  15. ^ Givony, Jonathan (April 3, 2022). "Auburn Tigers star big man Walker Kessler to enter NBA draft". Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  16. ^ "Timberwolves Acquire Draft Rights to Center Walker Kessler from Memphis Grizzlies". NBA.com. June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  17. ^ "Minnesota Timberwolves Acquire Center Rudy Gobert from Utah Jazz". www.nba.com. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  18. ^ "Utah Jazz Sign Walker Kessler". www.nba.com. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  19. ^ Inabinett, Mark (January 16, 2023). "Walker Kessler turns in 20/20 game for Utah Jazz". al.com. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  20. ^ "Utah Jazz vs Sacramento Kings Mar 25, 2023 Box Scores". NBA.com.
  21. ^ "Walker Kessler Career Stats - NBA". ESPN. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  22. ^ Hansen, James (April 26, 2023). "Walker Kessler takes third in Rookie of the Year voting". slcdunk.com. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  23. ^ Makrides, Alex (March 6, 2018). "Chad Kessler honored to be named SEC Basketball Legend like his brother". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  24. ^ Funderburk, Kyle (March 23, 2021). "UNC's Walker Kessler Enters Transfer Portal". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
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