Shaq Makes Bold Claim After Walker Kessler’s Historic Lakers Debut
Luka Dončić gave his new center an A+, then Shaquille O’Neal took it a step further.
“Walker Kessler is the best big man in the NBA. You heard it here first,” O’Neal said on ESPN’s Inside the NBA after the Lakers’ 127-105 win over the Warriors on Wednesday night.
It might be the first time the Hall of Famer offers lofty praise, but if Kessler keeps delivering historic numbers like he did in his first game in LA, it won’t be the last.
Oct 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Walker Kessler (14) dunks the ball against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
What history did Walker Kessler make in his Lakers debut?
Kessler went 12-for-12 from the field— the most made field goals without a miss by a Laker since Wilt Chamberlain in 1969.
He hammered 10 dunks—the first Laker to do so since O’Neal in 2003.
His 26 points, the game’s second-highest total behind Dončić (28), were just one shy of tying Chamberlain’s record for most points by a Laker in their debut.
Pretty good company, right?
Well, Kessler credits his success to his company.
“I’m extremely thankful,” Kessler said after the game. “Playing with the guys we have on our team, I wish I could say it was really difficult. But they’re just so good. Their court vision’s insane. They know my advantage is my height, so they found me in the right spots.”
To his credit, Kessler also put himself in those spots in pick-and-rolls and running the floor.
“Contrary to my name, I run a lot,” Kessler said. “I think when I run, it keeps me engaged in the game.”
Is Walker Kessler the best big man in the NBA?
Even with the three-point-dominant and high-speed pace in today’s NBA, there are still plenty of talented big men in the NBA: three-time MVP Nikola Jokić, reigning unanimous Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama and the 2023 MVP Joel Embiid.
But Jokić and Wembanyama are more “modern” NBA big men, with perimeter play and, for Jokić, some of the best passing ability in the league. So maybe O’Neal was evaluating Kessler in the realm of more “traditional” NBA centers: rim protecting and lob catching.
Why should Lakers fans be excited about Walker Kessler?
It’s also worth noting that Kessler only played five games with the Jazz last year due to having season-ending shoulder surgery. Despite this, LA traded two unprotected first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps to land Kessler from Utah, then signed him to a four-year, $130 million extension.
Kessler has not shied away from the lofty expectations that come with being a Laker. He views it as an “opportunity” to represent one of the greatest franchises globally.
And having the endorsement of one of the most dominant centers the team, and league, has ever seen could provide calmness for Lakers fans who were apprehensive of the steep cost to land the guy Dončić wanted.
Every great Lakers team has had a great big man— Kobe & Shaq, Kareem & Magic, Jerry West & Wilt. Now, the Purple and Gold may have their next big man to pair alongside Dončić for years to come.
Dončić wrote that the Lakers have a special team in his letter to fans in the LA Times. Wednesday night gave them a reason to believe.
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Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.