Walker Kessler already has won over Lakers teammates without even playing game

Is it too early to get excited about Walker Kessler?We know that he’s an elite rebounder and rim protector.But so far, there’s something about him that just, well, feels like the type of thing that can really tip a franchise in the right direction. He’s a personality guy. “I look at him as a two-way talent, and I think the fit is exciting,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said Tuesday when asked what excites him most about the center, before emphasizing his next sentence.“The person is really exciting.”In the three media availabilities Kessler has had with reporters since the Lakers acquired him on a four-year, $130 million deal — which included LA trading a slew of assets to Utah — Kessler has already made a big impression.He has said multiple times he’d run through a wall for the Lakers. What does that mean?“It’s a great question,” Kessler said, flashing a smile.

“For me, it’s just doing the little things and just competing my tail off every night and doing all the little stuff, whether that’s setting a hard screen, crashing the glass, sprinting the floor, just doing all the things it takes to win.”It’s not lost on Kessler that the Lakers went all in on him. They have zero tradable first-round draft picks through 2033 after trading two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033) and two pick swaps (2028 and 2030) to the Jazz for him.Kessler seems genuinely grateful they took that gamble.“When you have someone backing you and someone that shows you the belief that they have in you, it makes it a lot easier to want to make them proud and want to make them feel like you’re doing your absolute best for them,” he said.Kessler has already excited everyone around him.

Jake LaRavia said Kessler changes everything defensively when he’s on the court.“It’s going to make us wings and guards feel a lot more comfortable being a little bit more aggressive defensively, maybe being able to pick up full court a little bit more,” LaR...