Kessler Anchors Lakers' Strong Start

Walker Kessler is leading the NBA in field goal percentage while the Los Angeles Lakers sit at 5-2 through seven games.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Basketball

Walker Kessler is averaging 9.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game for the Los Angeles Lakers, and the team is 5-2 through seven games. The center is shooting a league-best 75.4% from the field while averaging 14.3 points per game.

Why it matters

Kessler's production gives the Lakers a rim-protecting presence and a lob threat for Luka Doncic, and the early results suggest the Lakers' investment is paying off. The team's offensive rating ranks second in the league.

Kessler ranks seventh in the NBA with 9.9 rebounds and second with 2.9 blocks per game, while shooting a league-best 75.4% from the field. These figures come from only seven games, so they may shift as the sample grows.

The players

Walker Kessler

Walker Kessler is a center who previously played for the Utah Jazz before joining the Lakers on a four-year deal.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are a Los Angeles-based NBA franchise that has built its roster around Luka Doncic.

Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz are an NBA franchise based in Salt Lake City that traded Walker Kessler to the Lakers.

The details

Kessler signed a four-year contract with the Lakers after the team traded two first-round picks and swaps to the Utah Jazz for him. He is altering shots at the rim and producing efficiently with limited touches.

Sunday: The Lakers defeated the Toronto Raptors, and Kessler commented on his rhythm after the game.
Seven games into the 2026-27 season: The Lakers hold a 5-2 record.

Season Trajectory

The Lakers' 2019 pairing of Anthony Davis with LeBron James showed how a dominant big man can anchor a title push alongside a perimeter star. Kessler's early production suggests the franchise is trying a similar formula around Luka Doncic.

Kessler's rebounding and shot-blocking numbers make him a relevant option for fantasy managers in categories that reward rebounds and blocks. Lakers fans can track whether his efficiency holds as Luka Doncic and the rest of the rotation settle in.

The takeaway

Early efficiency numbers can be misleading, but Kessler's combination of rim protection and finishing gives the Lakers a defensive anchor worth watching. Readers tracking the season should revisit these figures after another month of games.