Utah Jazz star Walker Kessler has been discussing the toughest opponents he has had to face in the NBA.
After a 15th placed finish in the Western Conference, the Utah Jazz did not land the dream number one Lottery pick they craved.
Instead they have to settle for the fifth pick, acknowledging they must continue to find the best path forward to progress the team next season.
One player who they can build around is 23-year-old center Walker Kessler, a first round pick in the 2022 draft, who has continued to play at a consistent level despite the inconsistency around him.
Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty ImagesWalker Kessler names toughest opponents
In an appearance on the Patrick Beverley podcast, Utah Jazz star Walker Kessler was asked about his toughest opponents.
Kessler picked one player from each conference, and had absolutely no doubt about the hardest matchup in the West.
The Jazz star named Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic, commenting: “The obvious one is Jokic. He’s just like, you’ll think your doing good then you look up and he’s got 10, 12, and 20. He’s tough to guard, the way he sees the game he’s just a savant.
He added: “The problem is you don’t even see it until it’s already done.”
Kessler was a little more split on his pick from the East, arguing that when he first came into the league it was Bam Adebayo.
After 2024-25 he has changed his mind, naming New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns.
“I would say on the Eastern side, my rookie year and sophomore year, Bam was really good, the last year was a rough year for Miami, but he was a tough matchup.
“Kristaps is a great big, his ability to stretch the floor, now KAT with New York, he’s a really tough guard, his ability to pick and pop, his rebounding ability.
“Probably KAT in the East and Jokic in the West.”
Walker Kessler averaged double-double
Despite his battles for the team with the worst record in the NBA in 2024-25, Walker Kessler made an impact in the 58 games he played for the team.
Kessler’s season numbers reflect his impact, he averaged a double-double for the team with 11.1 points per game and 12.2 rebounds.
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Kessler shot efficiently from the field, scoring 66.2 percent of his efforts, albeit low volume. His three-point shooting is a non-factor, however.
He thrives with the more conventional tasks of a center, rebounding the ball, doing so at both ends of the court, and Kessler just needs more talent around him to progress.
It would not be a surprise to see Kessler’s name in trade rumors this summer, but only because teams might see him as a player who could help them, not because the Jazz hold an interest in sending him away.