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Will Kessler, also known as Walker Ross Kessler, is an American professional basketball player. Kessler was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and played basketball for Woodward Academy in College Park, Georgia, before going on to play college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels and Auburn Tigers. Kessler was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022 and has also played for the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves. Basketball runs in Kessler's family, with his father, uncle, and brother all having played college basketball at the University of Georgia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Walker Ross Kessler |
| Date of Birth | July 26, 2001 |
| Age | 23 years |
| Height | 7 ft (213 cm) |
| Weight | 245 lbs (111 kg) |
| Nationality | American |
| Current Team | Utah Jazz |
| Jersey Number | #24 |
| Position | Center |
| Draft | 2022 NBA Draft, 1st round (22nd pick), by Memphis Grizzlies |
| College Basketball | North Carolina Tar Heels, Auburn Tigers, Woodward Academy |
| Senior Season Average | 17.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.2 blocks per game |
| Career Highlights | SEC Defensive Player of the Year, 3rd Team All American, NBA Rookie of the Year Award finalist |
| Family | Chad Kessler (father), Alec Kessler (uncle), Houston Kessler (brother) |
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What You'll Learn
Walker Kessler's early life and career
Walker Ross Kessler, born on July 26, 2001, in Atlanta, Georgia, is a professional American basketball player. Kessler comes from a family of basketball players. His father, Chad, and uncle, Alec, played college basketball at the University of Georgia and were drafted into the NBA before becoming orthopedic surgeons. Kessler's brother, Houston, also played basketball at the University of Georgia.
Kessler played basketball for Woodward Academy in College Park, Georgia. In his senior year, he averaged 17.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.2 blocks per game, leading his team to its first Class 4A state title. He was named The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Player of the Year, Mr. Georgia Basketball, and Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year. He was also a McDonald's All-American selection.
Following his successful high school career, Kessler committed to playing college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels, despite receiving offers from top programs such as Duke, Michigan, Virginia, and Vanderbilt. He later transferred to the Auburn Tigers. On December 29, 2021, he recorded a triple-double with 16 points, a career-high 11 blocks, and 10 rebounds against LSU. He was regarded as one of the nation's best shot-blockers, setting the Auburn single-season block record. At the end of the regular season, he was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and was a member of the All-SEC First Team and a 3rd Team All-American.
Kessler declared for the 2022 NBA Draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility. He was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 22nd overall pick but was quickly traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Just two weeks after being drafted, Kessler was traded again, this time to the Utah Jazz, where he signed his rookie-scale contract. During his rookie season, he appeared in 74 games, averaging 9.2 points per game. He had several standout performances, including a career-high 31 points and 11 rebounds against the Sacramento Kings. At the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, Kessler finished as a finalist for the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, placing third in the voting.
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Notable performances and achievements
Will Kessler, also known as Walker Ross Kessler, is an American professional basketball player. Kessler was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and played basketball for Woodward Academy in College Park, Georgia, during his senior year. He then went on to play college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels and Auburn Tigers.
- In his senior season at Woodward Academy, Kessler averaged 17.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.2 blocks per game, leading his team to its first Class 4A state title.
- Kessler was named The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Player of the Year, Mr. Georgia Basketball, and Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year during his senior year. He was also a McDonald's All-American selection.
- On December 29, 2021, while playing for the Auburn Tigers, Kessler posted a triple-double of 16 points, a career-high 11 blocks, and 10 rebounds against LSU.
- On January 25, 2022, Kessler received SEC Player of the Week honors following strong performances against Georgia and Kentucky.
- Kessler was regarded as one of the nation's premier shot-blockers during his college career. He set the Auburn single-season block record, leading the nation in blocks and recording more blocks than all but 13 teams.
- At the conclusion of the 2021-22 season, Kessler was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, a member of the All-SEC First Team, and a 3rd Team All American.
- Kessler declared for the 2022 NBA draft, where he was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 22nd overall pick. He was then traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
- On July 6, 2022, Kessler was traded to the Utah Jazz. On July 9, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Jazz.
- During his rookie season with the Utah Jazz, Kessler appeared in 74 games, averaging 9.2 points per game.
- On January 16, 2023, Kessler recorded a double-double with a career-high 20 points and 21 rebounds, along with four assists and two blocks, in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
- On March 25, 2023, Kessler scored a career-high 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a loss against the Sacramento Kings.
- At the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, Kessler was named a finalist for the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, finishing third in the voting.
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NBA draft and trades
The NBA draft is an annual event where teams select players from American colleges and international professional leagues to join their rosters. The process is made up of two rounds, with 30 players selected in each round, and 60 in the whole process. Each team gets one pick, depending on where they finished in the league, and they can trade these picks for current players. Teams can also obtain more than one new player per round. The main aim of the process is to help poorly performing teams, or teams in a rebuild process, improve their rosters.
The first 14 teams to pick are those that didn't qualify for the playoffs in the most recent season. These teams are entered into a lottery system to decide the draft order. Teams can trade their picks for current players if they feel it might help them win more games or achieve a particular goal. Teams can also trade draft picks for another player if they want to win now and don't want to wait for a young player to develop.
Trades are a common practice in the NBA, with teams swapping picks and players' rights. For example, in 2018, the Dallas Mavericks and the Atlanta Hawks traded Luka Doncic and Trae Young. Teams have until 2 pm ET on draft day to swap picks. After that point, teams can still make trades around draft picks, but they cannot switch picks, they can only trade the players' rights.
Walker Kessler, an American professional basketball player, was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round (22nd pick overall) of the 2022 NBA Draft. Two weeks after being drafted, he was traded to the Utah Jazz. Kessler's father, Chad, and uncle, Alec, were also drafted into the NBA after playing college basketball at Georgia.
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Family of basketball players
Basketball is a sport that often runs in the family. In fact, 10% of all NBA players ever are directly related to another NBA player. This is perhaps due to the advantages that the children of NBA players have, such as elite coaching from day one and attendance at the best basketball camps.
One example of a family of basketball players is that of Walker Kessler, an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz. Kessler's father, Chad, and uncle, Alec, both played college basketball at Georgia and were drafted into the NBA before becoming orthopedic surgeons. Kessler's brother, Houston, also played basketball at Georgia. Kessler himself played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels and Auburn Tigers. He was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft and was then traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves before signing with the Utah Jazz.
Another famous family of basketball players is the Bryant family. Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, who played for the Philadelphia 76ers, the San Diego Clippers, and the Houston Rockets, is the father of Kobe Bryant, who played for the Los Angeles Lakers and helped them win 5 NBA Championships. Kobe Bryant is considered one of the greatest NBA players of all time, ending his career as the 3rd highest scorer of all time.
The Miller family is another example of a family with multiple members who have found success in basketball. Cheryl Miller, who has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, is the sister of Reggie Miller, who played for the Indiana Pacers from 1987-2005 and is considered one of the best players to ever wear the team's uniform.
Lastly, the cousins Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady are both well-known NBA players. McGrady played for the Orlando Magic and won the NBA scoring title in 2003 and 2004, while Carter is currently ranked 26th in all-time scoring in the NBA and is known for his 2000 slam dunk contest victory.
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Injuries and concussions
One basketball player who has experienced concussions is Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz. Kessler entered concussion protocols on April 3, 2025, and as a result, missed the final five games of the regular season. He had to sit out against the Thunder, Trail Blazers, and Hawks due to the concussion and a nasal fracture. Kessler's absence from these games impacted the team's strategy, with other players like Oscar Tshiebwe and Kyle Filipowski stepping up to fill his position.
Kessler's experience with concussions is not an isolated incident in the world of basketball. The physical nature of the sport makes it susceptible to such injuries. In addition to concussions, basketball players often sustain injuries to the lower body, particularly the ankle and foot. Ankle sprains are a standard treatment in basketball, and the recovery process typically involves the RICE method.
While most injuries can be treated without seeing a doctor, some may require urgent care or physical therapy. For example, getting hit in the thigh can cause severe bruising, and while athletes can usually play through the pain, deep tissue massage from a licensed therapist can help speed up recovery. Knee injuries are also common in basketball and can often be treated with compression garments and thigh padding.
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Frequently asked questions
Walker Kessler is 7-foot-tall (213 cm).
Walker Kessler plays for the Utah Jazz.
Walker Kessler plays as a center.
