Walker Kessler reveals how he plans to use his size in the NBA

On3 imageby:Chandler Vessels06/29/22

ChandlerVessels

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Walker Kessler is aware of the advantage his size gives him. Standing 7-foot-1 and weighing 245 pounds, the former Auburn center will hope to use that height in the NBA after being drafted No. 22 overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Kessler was considered one of college basketball’s top defenders this past season after leading the country in blocks with 4.6 per game. Perhaps more impressively, he managed to avoid foul trouble most of the time as he fouled out in just three of the 34 games he played in.

“I wish I could say it’s all skill and I think that has a lot to do with it, but obviously length and height help,” Kessler said during his introductory press conference. “Just learning how to be smart about it. I think a lot of times people get caught up in trying to swing at a lot of balls and because of that get a lot of fouls. Understanding when you can attack the ball and when you’re supposed to go vertical. When you should try to jump as high as you can and when you should just try to contest at a low point. Just playing this year and trying to win games and impact the game on the defensive end. Learning a lot about angles and basketball.”

The one unique thing about Walker Kessler is that while his size enables him to be a better defender in the post, it doesn’t necessarily hinder him from guarding the perimeter. The 7-footer regularly spent time going up against guards in practice with the Tigers and believes that helped develop his all-around game.

“I think for me, the biggest thing to improve on that was just playing one-on-one with guards,” Kessler said. “Playing one-on-one with Wendell (Green), KD (Johnson) and even Jabari (Smith). Understanding different angles. Obviously, at the next level, there’s another level of speed and physicality. (It’s about) adjusting to that, but I don’t think I’ll have an issue with that. I have the right mentality going into it understanding that I do need to learn and improve and understand there’s growth to be had.”

As for the offensive end, Kessler’s height allows him to be extremely effective near the basket. He is still working on perfecting his shot outside of that, and shot 20% from 3-point range this past season on just 50 attempts.

“These past four months I’ve really been working on the mechanics of it and I think I kind of got away with that (in college),” he said. “I had inconsistencies with my shot. So just being able to rep out that form, I feel pretty confident in it.”

Kessler is one of four rookies set to join the Timberwolves next season in addition to guard Wendell Moore, forward Josh Minott and guard Matteo Spagnolo. All those players will get their first opportunity to show off their skills when the NBA’s summer league begins in Las Vegas on July 7.