"I Definitely Let My Emotions": Walker Kessler Reveals Unexpected Challenge Behind His First Game Back In Utah With Los Angeles Lakers

Walker Kessler admits emotions got the better of him© Instagram/ kidkessler

Four years of Utah memories did not help Walker Kessler on Sunday. Back in Salt Lake City for the first time since the trade, the $130 million center scored two points on 1-of-2 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds in 28 minutes, the weakest night of his Lakers career. Los Angeles beat the Jazz 132-123 anyway, erasing an 18-point deficit behind a 52-point game from Luka Doncic. Kessler was upfront about what went wrong. Emotions took over before the game, and the Lakers needed teammates to cover. Kessler had been dominant through the first two games in Los Angeles.

Walker Kessler Admits Emotions Took Over In Utah

Speaking to reporters after the win, Walker Kessler skipped the excuses. “Going into the game, I definitely let my emotions get the best of me. But you gotta learn from those moments and move on. But I'm glad we got the win tonight. And I've got a lot of thanks to give to my teammates, all of them,” Kessler said.

Utah is where Kessler's NBA career began, and the place still means something. “Obviously, Utah was the first four years of my career,” Kessler said. “It's a special place for me. Kind of jumpstarted my career, you know, a lot of good memories.”

Not all of those years were smooth. A left shoulder labral tear limited Kessler to five games last season, and surgery in November 2025 ended the year early.

Only one of Kessler's seven rebounds came on offense, which stood out in a game where the Jazz needed to keep Kessler off the glass. The center also took just two shots in 28 minutes and blocked one, a low number for a lob threat.

Lakers Lean On Teammates As Kessler Looks To Reset Against Portland

Kessler's quiet night barely moved the scoreboard. Doncic scored 52 and Austin Reaves shouldered much of the rest. Collin Sexton added 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting, and Matisse Thybulle chipped in 11 points and three steals. The Jazz came in looking for a measuring stick after a blowout loss to Memphis on opening night and a one-point win over New Orleans.

The Lakers paid a lot for Kessler. General manager Rob Pelinka and the front office sent Utah unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, plus pick swaps in 2028 and 2030. Kessler then signed a four-year, $130 million contract with Los Angeles. A price like that makes one weak game easy to notice and hard to overread.

Three games is a small sample. Kessler gave the Lakers strong rim protection and efficient scoring in the post in the first two, and Sunday looks like an outlier. The shot count is the one real concern. Two attempts is too few for a center whose lobs and finishes are part of the offense, and the Lakers will want Kessler involved earlier.

Kessler gets a quick chance to reset when Los Angeles hosts the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, Oct. 27.