He also collected first-team and Defensive Player of the Year accolades in the SEC. FutureView. Hes also one of three college basketball players ever to register 150 blocks and 10 made 3-pointers in the same season. From November, when he averaged 7.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.2 bloc His ORB%, DRB%, and TRB% were 15.3%, 21%, and 18%. Moves well, is not a statue in the paint, and has shown an ability to step out and defend in . The biggest questions for evaluating Kesslers defensive trajectory is how much that can carry over to an NBA floor. The 20-year-old might have a long career ahead. As a result, he was named the 2022 Naismith Mens Defensive Player of the Year in college basketball. Auburn sophomore post Walker Kessler does that incredibly well and is coming off a legendary, perhaps greatest-of-all-time shot blocking season at the college level. A potential favorite has already emerged to land Walker Kessler, a former five-star prospect who spent just one year with Roy Williams and the North Carolina Tar Heels.. Kessler, a 7-foot-1 center . Walker Kessler NBA Draft news, analysis, videos, stats and team projection from BasketballNews.com . Hometown Fairburn, Ga. . Analysis. Kessler gives the team an opportunity to continue their drop coverage scheme defensively because of the type of player that he is in terms of rim protection. Unlike Anthony Davis, Kessler struggles as an explosive athlete. Read full article. , so he lunges at perimeter shooters, bites on nearly every pump fake and gets himself into trouble as a result. Miami attacked him endlessly in their 5-out scheme, mirroring the attack the Los Angeles Clippers deployed against Rudy Gobert during the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Field Goals. Obviously hes a big target so teammates cant miss him. Walker Kessler is a lock top 60 guy and I think has to be considered a fringe 1st rounder at this point. youtu.be Walker Kessler Scouting Report 2022 NBA Draft In today's video, I will break down Walker Kessler, a projected 1st Round pick in the 2022 NBA draft. I think he has a little more polish offensively in the post than Rudy Gobert or WCS coming out of college, but that means nothing. 245 lbs. Beyond that, Kessler is limited: he doesnt pass or see the floor well, and he struggles to score out of the post in a translatable way (punishing mismatches, quick hooks, etc). February 25, 2023, 10:43 a.m. Fearless Forecast vs San Antonio Spurs: . He tries to block. Do you find this scouting report inaccurate/outdated? He also collected first-team and Defensive Player of the Year accolades in the SEC. He is now a member of the 2022 NBA Draft class. Walker Kessler now has 83 blocks this season as a rookie with the Toronto Raptors ' Christian Koloko coming in second with 45. To compare, Steven Adams averaged 6.3 RPG in 23.4 MPG at Pitt. Agents Drew Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha . Walker Kessler Scouting Report 2022 NBA Draft youtu.be/6yo61fSL_mg via @YouTube. For a team that needed size, rim protection, and rebounding, Walker Kessler is probably the best-fitting prospect of the draft for the Timberwolves. SCOUTING REPORT. Kessler was a good post-up defender in college, which will need to translate for him to fully hit his defensive upside. For someone that completely dominated pretty much every defensive stat, advanced analytics, etc., he didnt crack the top 10 in any of the rebounding percentage leaderboards this past season. 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 averaged around 11 PPG/8 RPG/1 APG/1 SPG/4.6 BPG. Alabama. Stay tuned to see what the team will do in the NBA Draft. Due to limited playing time, he transferred to Auburn. Eligibility restrictions apply. Tim Finnegan breaks down the UFC 285 main event on DraftKings Sportsbook. . His arms come down to swat at shots, which create fouls when he misses the ball, and he jumps forward while his arms are straight up, defeating the purpose of verticality altogether. Walker Kessler, a 7-foot center and UNC commit, is The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's all-classification boys player of the year for 2019-2020. one thing they might be looking to do is add another big man. I do not like the fit of Walker Kessler in Dallas simply due to his immobility, and my overall lack of confidence in Kesslers game translating to the next level. Akron. . / 111.1 kg. Good motor and active on the offensive glass. The 2022 NBA Draft order has been set and the list of eligible players is officially locked in. He has a big impact on the defensive end thanks to his great size and good defensive instincts. 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. Milwaukee Bucks NBA Draft Scouting Report: Walker Kessler - Strengths. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Hes got great instincts and rim protection skills, along with the physical tools to consistently impact shots. A player with a high assist rate is likely to produce a . Odds and lines subject to change. Pos. DraftKings operates pursuant to an Operating Agreement with iGaming Ontario. 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. 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. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/leaders/blk-pct-player-season.html, https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/seasons/2022-leaders.html. For an example of what subscribers get, check out the sample subscriber team page. Heres a look at Auburn C Walker Kessler. Kessler is an excellent rebounder with his size and length, grabbing 8.1 rebounds per game last season at Auburn and 12.6 rebounds per 40 minutes. If youre into analytics, Kessler had the highest block percentage of all time since 2009-10 at 19.05% (CBB Reference). 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. Explore all the NBA statistics of Walker Kessler. He finished the season with 155 blocks, tops in the nation, and tied for the national lead with 4.6 blocks per game. Follow your favorite teams and leagues for in-depth analysis and expert coverage from the best newsroom in sports. How good was Kessler anchoring Auburns defense as a top-ten team in the country for most of the year? Spin . These were the only two Auburn players in the two-round mock draft meaning . If you like my channel please subscribe if you haven't . 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. Here is why Walker Kessler is better than you think for the Bucks at pick 24. Out of the league after his rookie deal. Transfers to Auburn and re-discovers himself by playing big out of PNR, blocking shots . Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports. Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report. H.S. On the offensive end he plays like a combo forward trapped in a centers body. Kessler can handle in the open court and break the defender down off the . Walker Kessler's father, Chad, played basketball at Georgia. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500(VA). Kessler finished with nine points (4-6 FG, 1-2 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists, five blocks and one steal across 27 . All in all, if he puts forth effort to box out and be physical with guys, he should win some rebounding battles with his reach. Kessler reminds me a lot of Brook Lopez and hes really a development of a three-point shot away from bringing to the table exactly what Lopez does for the Bucks. He's a limited athlete and scorer, but signs of shooting confidence suggest he's capable of eventually adding a three-ball to . The SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and one of college basketballs most prolific shot blockers in its history, Walker Kessler had a dynamic breakout year following his transfer from North Carolina to Auburn. It's clear Kessler is a significantly better player now than he was at the beginning of the season. Among them for me is Walker Kessler. AUBURN, Ala. (AP) Auburn center Walker Kessler, who was chosen the nation's top defensive player, plans to enter the NBA Draft. 24. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. The Ringers Kevin OConnor projects Kessler to the Bucks in his latest mock draft and had this to say: Massive interior force with elite shot-blocking and finishing skills. Kessler made the most of his one season at Auburn after transferring in from North Carolina. Abilene Christian. pic.twitter.com/K6VLcSwVk4, Walker Kessler is a really good finisher above the rim, especially in traffic. Especially in todays NBA, having a roll man make good decisions out of short rolls in a spaced floor full of shooters is an extremely desirable trait. We didn't fare too well for the first time this year on Tuesday, going 2-3. Please play responsibly. Jazz's Walker Kessler: Game-high 12 boards, five blocks. Walker Kessler Ranger --hidden-- Since '19; . 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. It is possible that the Tar Heels produce multiple one . Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Overall, Walker Kessler must become a good shooter and have his finishing translate, while being a good shot blocker that doesnt get exposed on the perimeter to translate up to the NBA. He is an elite level shot blocker and shot disruptor inside, routinely blocking 4 or more shots in a game (currently averaging 4.7 per game) . The Minnesota Timberwolves addressed their interior defense by selecting Auburn center Walker Kessler with the No. For what its worth, he had similar combine measurements to Steven Adams. He was a consensus 5-star prospect coming out of high school . Auburn lands a big time center prospect who left UNC after his freshman season. Has nimble feet for a footer . In the playoffs, when gameplans and rotation changes can go after a players flaws possession after possession, Kessler stands out as a big man whose role may not provide much value over another big man with increased versatility, athleticism, offensive impact or discipline. After the pick, I went straight to work watching film on Kessler to see what the Wolves were getting with him. If the Mavs want to take a flier in the late second round on him, I would not be opposed; but taking Kessler in the first round on a guaranteed contract is a major risk in the modern NBA. Kessler knows how to get the ball, whether its for a rebound, blocking a shot, or for a ball that is loose anywhere on the floor. 1 pick in 2022 NBA Draft. Scouting Walker Kessler: Projection. While the Mavs do need a defensive anchor that could roll to the rim and shoot, the roll factor is minimal because of his slow speed. North Carolina has set itself up for success for years to come with this incoming 2020 recruiting class. Heres how he projects at the next level. Verticality is well-taught and drilled into his brain: he jumps straight up and is constantly trying to leap off the floor in that manner. Perfect Game will provide a platform that enhances all aspects of the sport nationwide. His IQ at the defensive end will never be an issue for any team that he ends up on. Pulled some clips of him handling in transition in open space. Walker Kessler (28%) made his first career start Wednesday and boy did he make the most of it! Pro Comparison: Brook Lopez. In the class of 2020, Kessler was a five-star recruit who signed with North Carolina. 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. College basketball play-by-play statistics. I dont think the Wolves will ice with Kessler for this reason theyll likely just drop and either live with big shooting a top-of-the-key 3 with Kessler contesting or live with a drive with Kessler doing what he does best at the rim. Are you sure you want to report Kessler's team for inappropriate content? This is a great stat when scouting back-up point guards who may be in line for increased playing time. 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). Wilson later denied the report: "I never wanted them fired." a day ago. 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. Scan this QR code to download the app now. Later in the mock draft, Auburn's Walker Kessler is selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 18th overall selection. Walker Kessler poses for photos on the red carpet during the 2022 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2022 in New York City. Walker Kessler: 2022 NBA Draft Scouting Report. Expected role: Shot blocker that lives at the rim on both ends and is always contesting shots. Simply wasn't the same player at North Carolina. Hes a smart player and you cant teach IQ and awareness. Pictures & Videos. 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. UFC 285 Main Card Picks on DraftKings Sportsbook. 22 overall pick of the 2022 NBA draft. Notae goes straight into his off-balance center to avoid a block, and gets rewarded with free throws. Might get some All-Defense votes in his prime. Looking at his defensive possessions in conference play and the NCAA tournament against Villanova and Miami, he needs to work on walling up with his chest in the post instead of going for blocks and allowing defenders space to make moves. Mock Archives 2017 Mock Draft 2016 Mock Draft . On the offensive end he plays like a combo forward trapped in a centers body. Kessler averaged 8.1 RPG, including 2.6 OREBs and 5.4 DREBs. The NBA is a different game based more on skill and angles, not as much size. With his size, Kessler is going to be a big threat for any PNR action, lobs, and dump offs. Videos. Kessler is emerging as a big time center prospect who contributes on both ends of the floor. As a reserve, he averaged 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Kessler is also a strong rebounder and isnt afraid to mix things up in the middle. Void in ONT. A lot of people are saying this is a swing factor for him I dont necessarily disagree, but I dont think being a legit 3PT threat will make or break his career. Jerry Meyer Director of Basketball Scouting. Struggled to Defend PNPs, Ghost Screens, etc. Welcome to Hoop-Math. AUBURN Walker Kessler will credit his teammates, the scouting report or his height for his stat lines. 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. Walker Ross Kessler (born July 26, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Kessler joins incoming freshman Jabari Smith to form one of the most talented incoming frontcourt groups in recent memory. He converted 73 percent of his shots at the rim this past season, which ranked in the 97th percentile, per Synergy. 06/10/2022. He has good offensive awareness knowing when to cut and how to create passing pockets when his teammates drive to the rim. 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. Hes a very similar player to Lopez in terms of athleticism and defensive ability, so it would be a seemingly smooth transition into the next generation for the Bucks at the 5. The 7-foot-1 sophomore finished with 12 points (10 . Cody Taylor - USA Today - Apr. As a benchmark, Anthony Davis averaged 4.65 BPG in his season at UK (34th all time). 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%. Kessler is coming off of a college season that earned him the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year honors by averaging 4.6 blocks per game. But let's try to bounc He probably wont be a 13-15 PPG guy that teams rely on to score. He can impact jump shooters that dribble in place and resort to a one-dribble stepback, but cannot handle change of speeds, especially against drives. 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.. A player with a high assist rate is likely to produce a lot of . Mar 11, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports, Mar 18, 2022; Greenville, SC, USA: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports. He stands at 71, 256 lbs, with a 74 wingspan comparable to Moses Brown, Wendell Carter Jr., Jakob Poeltl, and Willie Cauley-Stein. Scouting Report: Walker just put together arguably the most productive shot-blocking season on record in terms of production per minute. Moreover, the NCAA Tournament exposed some issues with projecting his movement in space at the next level. The team and fans certainly have their favorite targets. Strengths: Has excellent size for the position at 7'1", 245 pounds. 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. Tipico Sportsbook gets exact with Kessler's draft position. 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. Strengths: Walker is a skilled long big bodied post player. Hes not going to pick up players outside of the paint area well as hes not an explosive athlete, so that limits a bit of his versatility on defense. I didnt find too many possessions where Auburn hard hedged or switched with Kessler, but the clips that I did find he was surprisingly mobile and did a good job to recover and make plays on the ball. Last year, he played in the Australia U18 Nationals for Queensland South where he led all scorers averaging almost 27 points per game. The 20-year-old might have a long career ahead. Walker Kessler's 2023 draft profile. Position: C. Height: 7'0". 15 Greatest Draft Picks in Franchise History. Here's the scouting report for Kessler from 247Sports . 22 pick in the draft. Exceeds expectations if: Jump shot develops and his length + recovery ability as a shot blocker translates up to the NBA. 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. Listed at 6'10" and 225 pounds, Kessler fits squarely into the mold of a modern-day big man who is capable of scoring away from the basket. Player: Walker Kessler Position: C Height: 7'0" Pro Comparison: Brook Lopez Scouting Report: Walker just put together arguably . Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report. He shows flashes of switchability onto the perimeter, good ground coverage from the weak side and a comfort level that very few his size have away from the hoop. If he becomes consistent at this hell draw a lot of attention and open up the secondary break offense that Finch would love to build from. 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. Here goes. Im not expecting him to be a double-digit boards guy for his career. He tends to pick up his dribble early instead of continuing to backdown for a better position.
