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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Jazz's Walker Kessler: Efficient double-double
Walker Kessler produced 18 points (5-6 FG, 8-12 FT), 14 rebounds and five blocks across 29 minutes during Saturday's 129-103 loss to the Nuggets.Kessler notched his third double-double of the season and delivered an efficient showing from the field. Even though fantasy managers could use a bit more consistency from Kessler's scoring numbers on a game-to-game basis, the third-year big man has started the campaign on a strong note. Kessler is averaging 9.7 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per contest while recording three double-doubles across six contests.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Jazz's Walker Kessler: Strong two-way output Monday
Walker Kessler finished with 12 points (6-11 FG, 0-2 FT), 11 rebounds, one assist, two blocks and two steals over 30 minutes during Monday's 110-102 loss to the Mavericks.Kessler was limited to just two points in the blowout loss to the Warriors on Oct. 25, but other than that, the big man has been excellent to start the season, posting two double-doubles in three starts. He remains an impactful player on defense as well, racking up eight blocks and three steals in those three contests.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Jazz's Walker Kessler: Grabs nine boards vs. Golden State
Walker Kessler totaled two points (1-1 FG), nine rebounds, two assists and one block in 20 minutes during Friday's 127-86 loss to the Warriors.Kessler was the Utah Jazz's leading rebounder Friday, though that was about all he did in a blowout loss. Kessler had just one shot attempt and won't likely see many field-goal tries while playing alongside Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, Collin Sexton and Keyonte George. However, Kessler will provide plenty of value on the defensive end of the floor, highlighted by his 2.4 blocks per game across 23.3 minutes per contest over 64 regular-season outings (22 starts) during the 2023-24 campaign.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Jazz's Walker Kessler: Excellent two-way display Wednesday
Walker Kessler had 16 points (6-7 FG, 4-5 FT), 14 rebounds, one assist, five blocks and one steal over 30 minutes during Wednesday's 126-124 loss to the Grizzlies.Kessler was extremely efficient Wednesday and delivered a strong effort on both ends of the court, though his 14 boards and five blocks certainly stood out. He looked dominant regardless of whether he was matched against Zach Edey or Jay Huff. Kessler should be a regular double-double threat as long as he remains the starting center for the Utah Jazz. All signs point to that being the case.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Jazz's Walker Kessler: Team option exercised
The Utah Jazz exercised the fourth-year rookie scale option on Walker Kessler's contract Monday.Kessler is now under contract through the 2025-26 season. After starting 40 games as a rookie, the big man made only 22 starts last year. He operated as a starter during the preseason, so an expanded role in Year 3 is possible, though it remains unclear if coach Will Hardy will let Kessler play 25-plus minutes a night consistently.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Jazz's Walker Kessler: Grabs 15 rebounds Thursday
Walker Kessler finished with nine points (4-4 FG, 1-2 3Pt), 15 rebounds, an assist, a steal and two blocks across 24 minutes in Thursday's 107-102 preseason win over the Mavericks.Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George (knee) and even John Collins delivered solid offensive performances, but Kessler made his presence felt defensively and on the glass, two areas in which he already stands out. It's unclear if Kessler will open the 2024-25 regular season as the Utah Jazz's starting center, but either way, he should still play a consistent role.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Jazz's Walker Kessler: Starting vs. Houston
Walker Kessler is in the starting lineup for Monday's preseason game against the Rockets, Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune reports.Kessler drew the start in Utah's preseason opener against the New Zealand Breakers on Friday, and the 23-year-old will do so again Monday. He'll join Keyonte George, Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen and Taylor Hendricks in the Utah Jazz's starting five, with John Collins presumably coming off the bench.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Jazz's Walker Kessler: Will play with starters in camp
Coach Will Hardy said Tuesday he anticipates Walker Kessler playing a lot with the starters during the preseason, Tony Jones of The Athletic reports.After starting 40 games in 2022-23, Kessler made only 22 starts last year. Hardy was far from committal about Kessler being a starter to begin the 2024-25 campaign, but it does sound like the youngster will at least get a chance to compete for the top spot. The Utah Jazz have a deep frontcourt with a solid mix of prospects and veteran players, and it's unclear how the playing time will be sorted out. For now, Lauri Markkanen and John Collins are the only guys guaranteed starter minutes.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Jazz's Walker Kessler: Won't play Tuesday
Walker Kessler (rest) will not play in Tuesday's Salt Lake City Summer League matchup versus the Thunder, Sarah Todd of The Deseret News reports.Kessler tallied 10 points, six rebounds, a game-high five blocks, two assists and two steals in Monday's Summer League win over the Grizzlies. However, the third-year big man will sit out of Tuesday's matchup, allowing the Utah Jazz to get a better look at their rookie class of Cody Williams, Isaiah Collier and Kyle Filipowski. Kessler's next chance to play will come Wednesday against the 76ers.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Jazz's Walker Kessler: Expected to play in Summer League
The Utah Jazz plan to have Walker Kessler (nose) participate in the 2024 NBA Summer League, Tony Jones of The Athletic reports.After a nice rookie season in 2022-23 in which Kessler started his final 34 appearances, he was selected in the early-to-mid rounds of most fantasy leagues this season. Managers who did so were disappointed. The center's points (8.1) and rebounds (7.5) per game decreased, as did his field-goal percentage (65.4). He also started just 22 games and crossed the 30-minute threshold only eight times. While the Jazz also had interest in developing other bigs like John Collins and Taylor Hendricks, plus giving minutes to Kelly Olynyk before trading him to Toronto, Kessler's role gave the impression that he wasn't impressing coach Will Hardy. The organization seems to believe it would be best for Kessler to get more development minutes this summer.
