Sports · Basketball · 2 hrs ago
Lakers Await Kessler’s Debut as Starting Roles Remain Unsettled
The Los Angeles Lakers are waiting for new big man Walker Kessler to make his first on-court appearance for the team.
A jammed left pinky finger has kept him out for precautionary reasons, though he completed a full practice on Sunday and said he felt great.
Coach JJ Redick has not said whether Kessler will play against the Warriors on Tuesday, but said the team will see how he feels and expects him to get live play at some point this week.
Kessler’s return matters because the Lakers expect him to be an important player this season.
Meanwhile, Sandro Mamukelashvili has impressed teammates with his playmaking, and the team has not settled on its last two starting spots.
Jake LaRavia has also started preseason with strong shooting after a difficult season from three-point range.
The Lakers are waiting for Walker Kessler to make his first on-court appearance after a jammed left pinky finger delayed his debut.
Kessler completed a full practice on Sunday and said he felt great, but the team has not confirmed when he will play.
Coach JJ Redick said Kessler could be available for Tuesday’s game against the Warriors but would not commit to it.
The Lakers have not settled their final two starting spots alongside Kessler, Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic.
Jake LaRavia has made 6 of his first 11 three-point attempts in preseason after shooting 32.1% from three last season.
- Who
- Walker Kessler and the Los Angeles Lakers.
- What
- Kessler’s debut is delayed by a jammed left pinky finger, and the team’s final two starting roles remain unsettled.
- When
- Kessler practiced on Sunday; the Lakers have not confirmed whether he will play Tuesday.
- Where
- Los Angeles. The possible Tuesday game is against the Warriors.
- Why
- Kessler’s debut has been delayed for precautionary reasons related to his finger injury. The Lakers have been disjointed because players have been banged up.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A lot can happen in 48 hours.
I’m ready to play, but I trust the staff and I trust the trainers, the coaches and front office, you know?
It’s hard because we’ve just been a little disjointed with the guys being banged up, so there’s nothing definitive yet.
He’s got such a high basketball IQ that if he gets the rebound, he should basically play the one.
Kessler did not play.
Kessler completed a full practice and said he felt great.
The Lakers are scheduled to face the Warriors, but Redick did not confirm whether Kessler would play.
- Injury
- Jammed left pinky finger
- Kessler practice
- Full practice on Sunday
- Possible game
- Tuesday against the Warriors
- Starting group
- Two spots alongside Kessler, Reaves and Doncic remain undecided
- LaRavia preseason shooting
- 6 of 11 three-pointers
- LaRavia last-season three-point percentage
- 32.1%
Sources
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