Fireworks! New Lakers center Walker Kessler proposed to 2025 Miss America Abbie Stockard
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Set us as preferred Once again, Walker Kessler sat hunched forward, ears and eyes intently locked onto the person whose words would change his life.This wasn’t his bewildering 2022 NBA draft day experience captured on video that began with him hearing commissioner Adam Silver announce he had been chosen by the Memphis Grizzlies only to learn moments later that he had been traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, only to learn two weeks after that he’d been dealt to the Utah Jazz.No, this time it was about the love of his life, Abbie Stockard.
Glued to a screen, Kessler reacted to the words, “Your new Miss America is ...Alabama!” as if he’d been electrocuted.
He jumped from his chair and put his hands over his mouth, speechless as Stockard was crowned.Nineteen months later, Kessler — now the Lakers center — found his voice while on a Fourth of July outing at Lake Martin, Ala., and asked Stockard to marry him.She said yes.
The Lakers obtained the 7-foot-2 Kessler from the Jazz on July 1 in exchange for 2031 and 2033 first-round picks and 2028 and 2030 pick swaps, bringing to L.A.a strong defensive presence to accompany offensive-first star guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Lakers The Lakers reloaded a day after LeBron James left the team, trading for the young center while adding free agents Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes.Kessler, 24, agreed to a four-year, $130 million contract, not a bad nest egg for newlyweds.The Instagram story of the two sharing their engagement was captioned: “The future Kessler’s.
Let’s get y’all married!!!”Kessler’s mother, Andrea, played matchmaker two years ago, taking a photo of Stockard during an Auburn basketball game and sending it to her son.He messaged her on Instagram.
Stockard was on the dance team at Auburn, where she studied pediatric ...