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's 2023 draft profile. Mar 11, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports, Mar 18, 2022; Greenville, SC, USA: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports. BY Brian Fritz. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. He also collected first-team and Defensive Player of the Year accolades in the SEC. Kessler can handle in the open court and break the defender down off the . The concerns with Kessler are not on the defensive end, however. QB prospect makes big jump into top 10 as scouting combine beckons. 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. Theres enough of a foundation with Kesslers outside shot and ball-handling ability to create some upside, although neither can be considered plus points. liverpool v nottingham forest 1989 team line ups; best crews to join in gta 5. jay chaudhry house; bimbo bakeries buying back routes; pauline taylor seeley cause of death Similar to: Shawn Bradley, post-Miami Heat Hassan Whiteside, Hasheem Thabeet. Will he be just another Drop coverage big, or can he mix things up in a more aggressive style of pick-and-roll defense? Pulled some clips of him handling in transition in open space. A player with a high assist rate is likely to produce a . Timberwolves Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year), Jaylen Nowell, SG: $1.2M (2023, Club Option). Kessler also has a knack for the boards, as he averaged 8.1 rebounds per game during his final season at Auburn and 12.6 rebounds per 40 minutes. Big men who protect the rim have clear value in their translation to the NBA. He's a limited athlete and scorer, but signs of shooting confidence suggest he's capable of eventually adding a three-ball to complement his rim protection. "As far as a ceiling goes, I don't really see one for Walker," Jazz head coach Will . . It's clear Kessler is a significantly better player now than he was at the beginning of the season. 6-11, 220 | Class of 2020. Unlike Anthony Davis, Kessler struggles as an explosive athlete. Pro Comparison: Brook Lopez. 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. 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). Simply wasn't the same player at North Carolina. Tim Finnegan breaks down the UFC 285 main event on DraftKings Sportsbook. Thats the best in college basketball for anyone who took at least 15 attempts there. The 7-foot-1 North Carolina transfer announced his decision . The NBA is quick and relentless in exposing bad defensive traits, such as lateral quickness and defensive discipline, which will burn Kessler. 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. 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. 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. As a sophomore, Kessler averaged 11.4 PPG, 8 RPG, 0.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 4.6 BPG, and 1.1 TOPG on shooting splits of 61/20/60. 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. However, he still finished around 73% of his shots at the rim (not post-ups) according to Synergy. Kessler made the most of his one season at Auburn after transferring in from North Carolina. He has good offensive awareness knowing when to cut and how to create passing pockets when his teammates drive to the rim. 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. 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. Rotowire Feb 26, 2023. Kessler is also a strong rebounder and isnt afraid to mix things up in the middle. Kessler scores a majority of his points in the paint off of dunks and alley-oops. Player Profile Report. 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. Hometown Fairburn, Ga. . 22 overall pick of the 2022 NBA draft. Below are some of his strengths and weaknesses: Obviously this is the main skill with Kessler. Based on your vantage point, he has a very unique relationship with 3-point shooting upside, one that would certainly unlock a new ceiling to make him that rare, tantalizing stretch-5. Defensive discipline is lacking for Kessler with many of his fouls, especially on the perimeter. 15 Greatest Draft Picks in Franchise History. Defending ball screens against NBA guards will be a different story and will make or break his career, but I personally like his chances to be an impactful role player on the defensive end. Walker Kessler was a top 25 recruit out of high school. 2022 NBA Draft scouting report for Auburn C Walker Kessler, Full schedule, bracket for 2023 Southland Conference Tournament. His lack of ability in the post and as an outside shooter are valid concerns, but those kinds of things can be developed with NBA coaches and veteran players to help guide him along the way. Walker Kessler. At a towering 71, Kessler is much more mobile than many bird-legged or thick-bodied bigs. Connelly and staff said it best - we won't be able to judge these picks after Summer League or even after year 1. The big man finished with 10 points (5-of-6 FG), 12 rebounds, an assist and five swats. Similar to Vando, hell likely get his points through being at the right place at the right time, in the short corner/dunker spot. He does foul a lot, registering 6.1 fouls per 100 possessions over the course of his college career. Can run the floor. The biggest questions for evaluating Kesslers defensive trajectory is how much that can carry over to an NBA floor. Timberwolves Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year), Jaylen Nowell, SG: $1.2M (2023, Club Option). 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. during the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Auburn Tigers lead . If he can get 6-10 PPG just from PNRs, FTs, OREBs, and dump offs, thats more than enough. Milwaukee Bucks NBA Draft Scouting Report: Walker Kessler - Strengths. Hes not going to be an offensive player in the NBA. Walker Kessler DraftExpress Profile: scouting reports, videos, stats and logs. 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. 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). One of this draft class' top defensive prospects won't be doing on-field work at the NFL Scouting Combine. His ORB%, DRB%, and TRB% were 15.3%, 21%, and 18%. At the 2019 NBA Academy Games in Atlanta, King led all scorers with 19 points per game. SchoolWoodward Academy (GA) PositionCenter Height7'0" Weight220 lbs. 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. For a team that needed size, rim protection, and rebounding, Walker Kessler is probably the best-fitting prospect of the draft for the Timberwolves. Shows flashes of face up game and being able to put the ball on the floor. Kessler's uncle, the late Alec Kessler, also played for Georgia before being drafted in the ninth round by Houston in the 1990 draft. 1 pick in 2023 NFL draft. Menu. Jerry Meyer Director of Basketball Scouting. with Ice Coverage. 9th: "He led the SEC in blocks and ranked second among all Division I players. 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. The team and fans certainly have their favorite targets. Privacy Policy. Walker Kessler is a big man from Georgia who is entering the 2022 NBA Draft after two seasons in the NCAA. Shot-blocking specimen with great instincts as a rim-protector Fantastic size and length help him make his huge defensive impact Wiry, so he might need to get stronger so he doesnt get pushed around on the glass Solid shooting stroke, but the numbers dont reflect that yet Drop defender against pick-and-roll Has trouble when asked to switch Good finisher down low, though not a great one due to just-decent athleticism. AUBURN, Ala. (AP) Auburn center Walker Kessler, who was chosen the nation's top defensive player, plans to enter the NBA Draft. HometownFairburn, GA Class2020. After the pick, I went straight to work watching film on Kessler to see what the Wolves were getting with him. Hes the only player in the basketball-reference database to post a block rate of 19% or over while playing more than 400 minutes in a season. Kesslers defensive upside begins with his shot-blocking ability, which extends to some jump shots. Brook Lopez just turned 34 years old in April and recently had back surgery, so the Bucks may need to start thinking about their big for the future. He stands at 71, 256 lbs, with a 74 wingspan comparable to Moses Brown, Wendell Carter Jr., Jakob Poeltl, and Willie Cauley-Stein. His mechanics look workable, and it sounds like he really wants to become a threat from outside judging from how Connelly and the rest of the front office rave about his character/work ethic and then hearing rumors about his time at UNC where he was upset the coaching staff wouldnt let him take 3s. 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. Injury Reports; Player Notes; Player Props New; NBA Roster Changes; Can't Cut List; Stat Corrections; Research. 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. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Walker Kessler NBA Draft news, analysis, videos, stats and team projection from BasketballNews.com . Another recruiting class, another elite big man for North Carolina, as 2020 center Walker Kessler committed to the Tar Heels on Sunday, telling Evan Daniels of , so he lunges at perimeter shooters, bites on nearly every pump fake and gets himself into trouble as a result. Might get some All-Defense votes in his prime. For the Tigers, he averaged 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game. Alabama. 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. (All stats provided by Synergy require a subscription). By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. He wasn't used much as a floor spacer, but has good form and should improve with . 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. Explore all the NBA statistics of Walker Kessler. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Last year, he played in the Australia U18 Nationals for Queensland South where he led all scorers averaging almost 27 points per game. Walker Kessler. This site is now updating for the 2022-2023 season. Struggled to Defend PNPs, Ghost Screens, etc. A&M-Corpus Christi. Watch on. He finished the season with 155 blocks, tops in the nation, and tied for the national lead with 4.6 blocks per game. Walker Kessler out of Auburn is someone who they might be interested in turning into the next Brook Lopez. Here is an analysis of his strengths and weaknesses and whether or not I believe he can fill that role. Additionally, Kessler struggles to guard the perimeter consistently. The oddsmakers there have his line at 24.5, with even -110 odds of him either being picked before or after No. He also is great at locating and making outlet passes once he grabs a rebound. How he handles the increased athleticism around him will be telling. 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. Kessler finished with nine points (4-6 FG, 1-2 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists, five blocks and one steal across 27 . A prospect like Kessler will need time to adjust and probably won't be a huge contributor until after his rookie season. D raft E xpress. Projection . Alec Kessler Uncle. AUBURN Walker Kessler will credit his teammates, the scouting report or his height for his stat lines. Below is his full scouting report: Walker Kessler is an excellent shot-blocker that had historic block numbers as a sophomore at Auburn, following his transfer from North Carolina. Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Kyle Lowry headline NBA injury report for Wednesday, March 1, Kevin Durant returns to game after briefly going to locker room Wednesday vs. Hornets, Pick against the spread, over/under for 76ers vs. Heat on Wednesday, Senators acquire D Jakob Chychrun from Coyotes. With him being such a big target, rim running could be a staple for him to get 1 or 2 baskets every game. Kessler's team's Players roster for 2023-03-01. 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. He tries to block. Walker's brother, Houston, also played for Georgia from 2013-17. He has great hands . https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OwHdCZf1ux4W89uR8A6Z8KgkShYyl1LkZheQi4heO1A/edit?usp=sharingMusic credits:Mi-Lo by Smith The Mister https://smiththemister.bandcamp.comSmith The Mister https://bit.ly/Smith-The-Mister-YTFree Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/mi-loMusic promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/--4tHbTT97g He averaged 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks in 34 games. He does a tremendous job of getting open in screening action as the roller on pick-and-roll plays. 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.. Abilene Christian. Jabari Smith Jr. scouting report: Strengths . Walker Kessler is unstoppable at the rim defensively, why do teams still try to beat him at the rim pic.twitter.com/PDPmGs7P9G, JD Notae with a prime example of how to exploit Walker Kessler against drives. SCOUTING REPORT. For any kind of hedging, switches, etc. 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). DRAFT SCOUTING REPORTS: Chet Holmgren | Paulo Banchero. The NBA is a different game based more on skill and angles, not as much size. We have the brackets, dates, time, matchups, TV channels, live streaming outlets and more for the 2023 Southland Conference Tournament here. Tipico Sportsbook gets exact with Kessler's draft position. 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) . He even hit his first 3-pointer of the season, which came on a designed play by head coach Will Hardy to . Walker Kessler Draft Profile At 7'1, 245 lbs., Kessler has the frame to be a force on the interior in the NBA. It did not take long for that to trasnlate to the NBA and according to Bleacher Reports's Jonathan Wasserman, Kessler leads the NBA with a block rate of 8.4%, counting players who have played at latest 500 minutes. This is a great stat when scouting back-up point guards who may be in line for increased playing time. Excellent positional size at 7'1". Yet when I hear most other fans speak of Kessler, most would prefer the team to stay away from him. Best Case Scenario: Works his way into a starting role anchoring a great playoff-team defense. Office . 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. 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. Theres better, more realistic, upside plays for big man in the draft. He is particularly good finishing as a roll man in the pick-and-roll, where he made an incredible 94 percent of his shots rolling to the basket, ranking in the 99th percentile. Strengths: Has excellent size for the position at 7'1", 245 pounds. He has a big impact on the defensive end thanks to his great size and good defensive instincts. 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