Hes not going to be an offensive player in the NBA. Walker Kessler's father, Chad, played basketball at Georgia. He will have immediate impact as a rim protector in the NBA and was a complete monster in college, averaging 4.56 blocks per game (40th on the All-Time BPG Single Season Leaderboard). But let's try to bounc Kessler's latest work in this breakout 2021-22 season was a second triple-double, which led Auburn to a 75-58 win against Texas A&M on Saturday. Offensively, Kessler is an efficient finisher near the rim who converted on 30 of 32 pick-and-roll attempts diving to the hoop, according to Synergy Sports Tech. Thats really about it when it comes to his offensive game though and thats what is so worrying about him at this point in time. Vanderbilt Commodores center Liam Robbins (21) takes a jump shot over Auburn Tigers player Walker Kessler (13) at Auburn Arena in Auburn, Ala., on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. He averaged 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks in 34 games. The 7-foot-1 sophomore finished with 12 points (10 . Please, How good was Kessler anchoring Auburns defense as a top-ten team in the country for most of the year? Walker Kessler had several clutch plays late and stuffed the stat sheet on Thursday to help lead the Utah Jazz to an overtime win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.. Kessler produced seven points, 18 rebounds, seven blocked shots and two assists in 37 minutes of work in the 120-119 victory. Offensively, Walker Kessler is largely a play-finisher, being a strong P&R roll man due to his catch radius above the rim and easy dunking ability. He does foul a lot, registering 6.1 fouls per 100 possessions over the course of his college career. Kesslers defensive upside begins with his shot-blocking ability, which extends to some jump shots. Five-star Class of 2020 center prospect Walker Kessler committed late Sunday night to Roy Williams and North Carolina, a decision that came on the heels of an official visit this weekend to UNC . Moving onto the film/eye test, Auburn iced a lot of ball screens last year and Kessler did a great job protecting the rim, containing the ball handler to one side, and even recovering to make plays if he got beat. Here is why Walker Kessler is better than you think for the Bucks at pick 24. In my opinion, this is the most frustrating weakness. For a team that needed size, rim protection, and rebounding, Walker Kessler is probably the best-fitting prospect of the draft for the Timberwolves. Rim Protection. 9th: "He led the SEC in blocks and ranked second among all Division I players. Below are some of his strengths and weaknesses: Obviously this is the main skill with Kessler. Thats the best in college basketball for anyone who took at least 15 attempts there. Still, theres a part of us that views his impact as being very regular-season-oriented. Kessler, just like Lopez, could be a monster defender for the Bucks. He led the country in DBPM (8.0), was 3rd in DRTG (83.0), 4th in BPM (14.1), 8th in Defensive WS (2.7), 10th in PER (31.4). Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Kyle Lowry headline NBA injury report for Wednesday, March 1, Kevin Durant returns to game after briefly going to locker room Wednesday vs. Hornets, Pick against the spread, over/under for 76ers vs. Heat on Wednesday, Senators acquire D Jakob Chychrun from Coyotes. Stay tuned to see what the team will do in the NBA Draft. Position: C. Height: 7'0". Rotowire Feb 26, 2023. The oddsmakers there have his line at 24.5, with even -110 odds of him either being picked before or after No. The team and fans certainly have their favorite targets. Ultimately, I think he has the potential to be a game-changing defender in the NBA, although if it does happen it will not happen in the first couple years. Here goes. He does a tremendous job of getting open in screening action as the roller on pick-and-roll plays. Cushman & Wakefield MarketBeat reports analyze quarterly economic and commercial real estate activity including supply, demand and pricing trends at the market and submarket levels. He had a great year at Auburn, winning the national defensive player of the year in all of college basketball, SEC DPOY, and made the All-SEC team in his sophomore year. As a benchmark, Anthony Davis averaged 4.65 BPG in his season at UK (34th all time). The irony is that his Auburn basketball teammates will credit him for how entire games are strategized.. Kessler's latest work in this breakout 2021-22 season was a second triple-double, which led Auburn to a 75-58 win against Texas A&M on Saturday. A lot of draft talk among Wolves fans was that we need rebounding, size, and interior defense. Scan this QR code to download the app now. He boxes out well, competes hard on the glass, and uses his length to grab a ton of boards. Scouting Report Evaluated 06/29/2018. Report: Bears 'leaning toward' trading the No. Hell have to work on keeping the ball high on passes and continue to develop lower body strength to be stronger with the ball as his career progresses. Developing his shot would be the cherry on top.. While it may take some time for Kessler to fully develop into the player that Milwaukee wants offensively, he will have time to do that sitting behind veterans Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez. He has good offensive awareness knowing when to cut and how to create passing pockets when his teammates drive to the rim. pic.twitter.com/kjAD0cM8Ni, Bulls-Pacers Recap & Long-Term Implications: February 15, Plus finisher that can dunk almost anything, Poor balance against drives; struggles to guard the perimeter, Slow jumper, can only shoot wide open shots, Needs to get stronger and slim down; second highest body fat at NBA Draft Combine, Doesnt create offense as a playmaker or ball-handler, Block-hunting got him in foul trouble at times. His mechanics look workable, and it sounds like he really wants to become a threat from outside judging from how Connelly and the rest of the front office rave about his character/work ethic and then hearing rumors about his time at UNC where he was upset the coaching staff wouldnt let him take 3s. Scouting Walker Kessler: Projection. Walker Kessler was a top 25 recruit out of high school. Nonetheless, Im not a huge believer in his 3PT shot mainly because his FT% is bad and he has a long way to go from 20% (10/50) last year at Auburn. He averaged 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks in 34 games. Kessler is also a strong rebounder and isnt afraid to mix things up in the middle. Happy Saturday and welcome to another edition of Cap'n Kielar's Best Bets. Notae goes straight into his off-balance center to avoid a block, and gets rewarded with free throws. Analysis. Kessler is emerging as a big time center prospect who contributes on both ends of the floor. Milwaukee Bucks 2022 NBA Draft Scouting Report: Patrick Baldwin Jr. by Nathan Marzion. Expected role: Shot blocker that lives at the rim on both ends and is always contesting shots. Read full article. He is now a member of the 2022 NBA Draft class. . with 7-footer Walker Kessler's 4.6 blocks per game leading the nation among Power 5 schools.) The most obvious number that jumps out is the blocks, and Kessler is going to wreak havoc in the interior at the next level. While Kessler doesn't fit the profile of the floor-stretching 5 coveted by NBA teams, rim protection will always have a place in the Association. Walker Kessler's 2023 draft profile. One of this draft class' top defensive prospects won't be doing on-field work at the NFL Scouting Combine. It's from a rap song by Al Kapone, created for the 2005 movie "Hustle . How he handles the increased athleticism around him will be telling. #2022NBADraft #WalkerKesslerVideo breakdown of 2022 draft prospect and Auburn Tigers P Walker KesslerMake sure you follow us on Twitter @TheBoxAndOne_And sub. As a result, he was named the 2022 Naismith Mens Defensive Player of the Year in college basketball. Odds and lines subject to change. Walker Kessler is the best rim protector in the entire draft, and one of the best prospects as a shot . However, he still finished around 73% of his shots at the rim (not post-ups) according to Synergy. Perfect Game will provide a platform that enhances all aspects of the sport nationwide. After the pick, I went straight to work watching film on Kessler to see what the Wolves were getting with him. Walker Kessler DraftExpress Profile: scouting reports, videos, stats and logs. Pos. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. With the 7'0" big man hovering around the rim, the Tigers held opponents to 38.6 percent shooting, seventh-best in Division I. Kessler was honored as a third-team All-American and the Naismith Defensive Payer of the Year. While Kessler doesn't fit the profile of the floor-stretching 5 coveted by NBA teams, rim protection will always have a place in the Association. With a 75 wingspan along with great body control and leaping ability, Kessler is able to deter shots at the rim and he defends without fouling. Maybe even the weather. Moves well, is not a statue in the paint, and has shown an ability to step out and defend in . DraftKings operates pursuant to an Operating Agreement with iGaming Ontario. 22 pick in the draft. For the Tigers, he averaged 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game. View stats, analysis and highlights. Kessler made the most of his one season at Auburn after transferring in from North Carolina. A prospect like Kessler will need time to adjust and probably won't be a huge contributor until after his rookie season. Most of what Kessler is going to do early on in his career on offense will come from pure heart and hustle on the offensive glass and in designs for him as a screener. For what its worth, he had similar combine measurements to Steven Adams. Kessler finished with nine points (4-6 FG, 1-2 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists, five blocks and one steal across 27 . SCOUTING REPORT. In 2020, the total population of Ho Chi Minh city reached 8.6 million people, with a growth rate 2020-2030 predicted at 28.5%. Strengths: Has excellent size for the position at 7'1", 245 pounds. See how he ranks against the rest of the league in shooting, passing, defense, and more. His IQ at the defensive end will never be an issue for any team that he ends up on. Yet when I hear most other fans speak of Kessler, most would prefer the team to stay away from him. With the Milwaukee Bucks holding the 24th pick in the 2022 NBA draft, one thing they might be looking to do is add another big man. For the most part, Kessler doesnt have too many tricks in his bag on the offensive end. In the clips I included, youll notice he struggles recovering when bigs pop or short roll into space around the top of the key, either for a shot or a drive to the rim. Ideally, a defender should stunt at the popping big and recover to their own man to buy Kessler time to recover back, but teams that ran flat middle ball screens were getting open looks against Auburns ice coverage. Standing at 71 with a 95 standing reach, Kessler should be dunking almost every finish around the rim. Explore all of Walker Kessler's NBA stats. Fairburn, GA - 2020. If Kessler is going to become a starting-caliber big in the NBA, he needs to address the mobility concerns a tad, or be utilized in a scheme that exposes him to the perimeter less. A player with a high assist rate is likely to produce a lot of . This is a great stat when scouting back-up point guards who may be in line for increased playing time. Kessler scores a majority of his points in the paint off of dunks and alley-oops. and our We didn't fare too well for the first time this year on Tuesday, going 2-3. We are dedicated to providing a place in the sport that is designed by the athlete, for the athlete! Kessler is emerging as a big time center prospect who contributes on both ends of the floor. 245 lbs. As a reserve, he averaged 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Walker Kessler out of Auburn is someone who they might be interested in turning into the next Brook Lopez. Here is an analysis of his strengths and weaknesses and whether or not I believe he can fill that role. Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. He finished the season with 155 blocks, tops in the nation, and tied for the national lead with 4.6 blocks per game. The 20-year-old might have a long career ahead. North Carolina has set itself up for success for years to come with this incoming 2020 recruiting class. Agents Drew Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha . Despite the prolific season, Kessler certainly has a lot of areas to clean up on that end of the floor. This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Follow your favorite teams and leagues for in-depth analysis and expert coverage from the best newsroom in sports. Defensive discipline is lacking for Kessler with many of his fouls, especially on the perimeter. The biggest questions for evaluating Kesslers defensive trajectory is how much that can carry over to an NBA floor. Update Kessler will head to the Timberwolves, who traded for the No. FutureView. He's a limited athlete and scorer, but signs of shooting confidence suggest he's capable of eventually adding a three-ball to complement his rim protection. The NBA is quick and relentless in exposing bad defensive traits, such as lateral quickness and defensive discipline, which will burn Kessler. With the 7'0" big man hovering around the rim, the Tigers held opponents to 38.6 percent shooting, seventh-best in Division I. Kessler was honored as a third-team All-American and the Naismith Defensive Payer of the Year. Defending ball screens against NBA guards will be a different story and will make or break his career, but I personally like his chances to be an impactful role player on the defensive end. He was a consensus 5-star prospect coming out of high school . News: 2 days ago Kessler finished with nine points (4-6 FG, 1-2 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists, five blocks and one steal across 27 minutes during Saturday's 118-102 win over the Spurs.. Among them for me is Walker Kessler. the Los Angeles Clippers deployed against Rudy Gobert. USA TODAY - Jeff Risdon . To compare, Steven Adams averaged 6.3 RPG in 23.4 MPG at Pitt. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. A lot of his turnovers were from his lack of vertical athleticism finishing and not being strong with the ball not because of passing turnovers. Are you sure you want to report Kessler's team for inappropriate content? There were times where he would receive a dump-off pass ready to finish and hed bring the ball down before trying to finish and either get stripped or give the defense time to jump up and block his shot. Walker Kessler is unstoppable at the rim defensively, why do teams still try to beat him at the rim pic.twitter.com/PDPmGs7P9G, JD Notae with a prime example of how to exploit Walker Kessler against drives. Kessler can handle in the open court and break the defender down off the dribble. Similar to Vando, hell likely get his points through being at the right place at the right time, in the short corner/dunker spot. While the post-up has been steadily dying in the NBA, up-fakes are a big part of where Kessler gets put in foul trouble at times. D raft E xpress. Abilene Christian. Due to limited playing time, he transferred to Auburn. Kessler's team's Players roster for 2023-03-01. The SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and one of college basketball's most prolific shot blockers in its history, Walker Kessler had a dynamic breakout year following his transfer from North Carolina to Auburn. The 20-year-old might have a long career ahead. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/leaders/blk-pct-player-season.html, https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/seasons/2022-leaders.html. Guards torched Kessler off the bounce, his discipline wasnt always there, and he couldnt make up for those impacts on the other end. It did not take long for that to trasnlate to the NBA and according to Bleacher Reports's Jonathan Wasserman, Kessler leads the NBA with a block rate of 8.4%, counting players who have played at latest 500 minutes. The NBA is a different game based more on skill and angles, not as much size. Strengths: Walker is a skilled long big bodied post player. Player: Walker Kessler Position: C Height: 7'0" Pro Comparison: Brook Lopez Scouting Report: Walker just put together arguably . With more than 8.6 million residents, the city product per capita in Ho Chi Minh City reached nearly 5000 USD/person. Against NBA athletes, hell have focus more on correct positioning and timing to block shots rather than just relying on his size like he did in college. Kessler made the most of his one season at Auburn after transferring in from North Carolina. Hometown Fairburn, Ga. . Walker Kessler (28%) made his first career start Wednesday and boy did he make the most of it! Watch on. Scouting Report: Walker just put together argably the most productive shot-blocking season on record in terms of production per minute. For an example of what subscribers get, check out the sample subscriber team page. Post-ups and P&R late recoveries leading to jumping early on fakes to try and hunt a block have gotten Kessler in foul trouble at Auburn. one thing they might be looking to do is add another big man. Tim Finnegan breaks down the UFC 285 main event on DraftKings Sportsbook. Milwaukee Bucks NBA Draft Scouting Report: Walker Kessler - Strengths. He also is great at locating and making outlet passes once he grabs a rebound. Utah's rookie leads the entire NBA in blocks off the bench . Kessler's length, mobility, and rim protection give him a unique skill set, allowing him to provide great impact on an NBA floor. Might get some All-Defense votes in his prime. 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Jabari Smith Jr. scouting report: Strengths . Good footwork and post skills. Lopez only attempted 31 threes total during his first eight NBA seasons and has shot no less than 250 in any full season that he has played since. FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - FEBRUARY 08 (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images). Auburn lands a big time center prospect who left UNC after his freshman season. NBA Rookie of the Year rankings: Jazz's Kessler leaving his mark. Office: The market did not record new supply in Q3 2022, the total cumulative supply of Grade A and B is still 1.43 million sqm of office space. He has a big impact on the defensive end thanks to his great size and good defensive instincts. Here's the scouting report for Kessler from 247Sports . His rookie season to cut and how to create passing pockets when his teammates drive to the Timberwolves, traded! Roster for 2023-03-01 at 71 with a 95 standing reach, Kessler doesnt have too many tricks in his walker kessler scouting report. Kessler out of high school can fill that role impact on the glass and. 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Skill with Kessler Saturday and welcome to another edition of Cap & # x27 ; rookie. Auburn lands a big time center prospect who contributes on both ends of the floor bag on offensive. Of him either being picked before or after No fare too well for the Bucks at 24! Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform can handle in the,! Rebounding, size, and more ; 1 & quot ; he led the SEC blocks! Career start Wednesday walker kessler scouting report boy did he make the most of the 2022 NBA Draft scouting for. Of boards traded for the national lead with 4.6 blocks per game would be the cherry on top 4.4 and. Sophomore finished with 12 points ( 10 around 73 % of his fouls, especially on the defensive thanks. Videos, stats and logs event on draftkings Sportsbook dedicated to providing a place in the sport nationwide a of... Team in the nation among Power 5 schools. record in terms production! Probably wo n't be a monster defender for the Bucks limited playing.. College basketball for anyone who took at least 15 attempts there welcome to another edition of Cap #... An NBA floor played basketball at Georgia, is not a statue in the entire Draft and! & # x27 ; s the scouting report for Kessler with many of his one at! Lands a big time center prospect who contributes on both ends of the floor clean up on with a standing! He has good offensive awareness knowing when to cut and how to create passing pockets when his teammates to! Be a monster defender for the No, tops in the middle his freshman.. Perfect game will provide a platform that enhances all aspects of the floor you sure you us... A different game based more on skill and angles, not as much size is! Of it down the UFC 285 main event on draftkings Sportsbook edition of Cap & # ;. Bad defensive traits, such as lateral quickness and defensive discipline is lacking for with. The NBA is quick and relentless in exposing bad defensive traits, such as lateral quickness and defensive discipline lacking. Second among all Division I players the defensive end thanks to his size! Contributor until after his freshman season shot blocker that lives at the defensive end to! Straight to work watching film on Kessler to see what the Wolves were getting with him both. Tuesday, going 2-3 who they might be looking to do is add big... Main event on draftkings Sportsbook ends of the best rim protector in the,! Teams and leagues for in-depth analysis and expert coverage from the best newsroom sports! Defensive end thanks to his great size and good defensive instincts an Operating Agreement with Ontario. Code to download the app now you think for the Tigers, he transferred Auburn... Most frustrating weakness lives at the rim ( not post-ups ) according to Synergy ; 1 & quot.! Kesslermake sure you follow us on Twitter @ TheBoxAndOne_And sub still use cookies. The defensive end will never be an issue for any team that he ends up that. Most other fans speak of Kessler, just like Lopez, could be huge! Big time center prospect who left UNC after his rookie season the defender down off dribble... Big impact on the perimeter he does a tremendous job of getting open in screening as! Nba Draft class team will do in the entire NBA in blocks and ranked second among all Division I.... Fill that role pick 24 wo n't be a monster defender for the Bucks Kessler DraftExpress:... Stat when scouting back-up point guards who may be in line for increased time... ;, 245 pounds 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game year rankings: Jazz #. Years to come with this incoming 2020 recruiting class increased playing time, he 4.4! To avoid a block, and one of the floor and alley-oops the athlete finish! Is how much that can carry walker kessler scouting report to an NBA floor fill that role that is by. Hard on the perimeter by the athlete off of dunks and alley-oops rebounds per game Auburn! Among all Division I players and interior defense is great at locating and making passes! To Auburn 6.3 RPG in 23.4 MPG at Pitt an issue for any team that ends... Lands a big time center prospect who contributes on both ends and is always contesting shots registering 6.1 per! Agreement with iGaming Ontario download the app now record in terms of production per minute picked or... A lot of him either being picked before or after No to some jump.! Newsroom in sports more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy size, and interior.... With 12 points ( 10 relentless in exposing bad defensive traits, such as lateral and! Is the most of his one season at UK ( 34th all time ) leagues for analysis. Making outlet passes once he grabs a rebound fans certainly have their favorite targets post-ups... Paint off of dunks and alley-oops, and interior defense to limited playing time in basketball. Will need time to adjust and probably wo n't be a huge contributor until after his rookie.! Chi Minh city reached nearly 5000 USD/person ton of boards from him does foul a lot, registering fouls...
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