Jazz Center Walker Kessler is Close to Winning Rookie of the Year
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Not only do the 2022-23 Utah Jazz boast a bonafide All-Star, but Lauri Markkanen is also in the running for the NBA's Most Improved Player award. Another individual accolade that a Jazzman currently finds himself within striking distance of is the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
As it stands, Jazz rookie center Walker Kessler is ranked third in the ROTY voting within the NBA's app, behind Orlando's Paolo Banchero (No. 1) and Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams (No. 2).
In the wake of last summer's tectonic Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell trades, few within Jazz Nation would have expected anyone on the new-look roster to garner such individual attention. Jazz fans can grease the wheels for Kessler by smashing the NBA app and voting for Utah's sensational rookie.
Kessler has been just that, but he's really come into his own since the NBA trade deadline. Averaging 8.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game, he's become a nightmare for opponents.
In each of Utah's last two games — both of which were victories against the No. 2-seeded team in each Conference — Kessler made plays in the clutch to secure the win. The rookie's block on Grant Williams' would-be game-winner vs. the Boston Celtics on Saturday night was a signature play and the type for which his reputation is growing in the NBA.
“I think that a lot of guys know that I’m a shot-blocker, so they try to pump-fake, so I kind of knew the first one was coming, and then when he went for it, I just reached out my left hand and got a hand on it," Kessler recounted of the play post-game.
In Monday night's win over the Sacramento Kings, Kessler was once again a defensive whirling dervish of epic proportions, blocking a whopping five shots, a few of which came when the chips were down and the Jazz needed it most.
Utah's rookie center is doing things so early in his career that only Hall-of-Fame centers of yore have pulled off. That's no guarantee that Kessler is bound for the Hall someday, but it helps put things in perspective.
Even Kessler's fellow rookie Ochai Agbaji, who's also been tremendous of late, can't help but notice his teammate's growing dominance in the paint.
"I think Walker, he’s had a great season," Agbaji said following the Boston win. "He’s dominating right now and that just shows. So that experience and confidence really grows.”
As Kessler's confidence continues to grow, so will his production on the court. If there's any palpable room for improvement, it's on the free-throw line, where he's averaging a paltry 53.6%.
Even after his big-time clutch play on Saturday night, Kessler was lamenting his missed free throws in the game. With his father and brother in attendance, he knew he'd be hearing about that post-game.
“They’re gonna talk to me about my free-throws but, uh (laughs)," Kessler said post-game. "No, they’re happy. They’re happy for sure.”
Jazz fans can do their part by smashing that NBA app link and voting for the rookie out of Auburn. At just 21 years old, fans are in line for the increasingly-likely prospect of Kessler growing into an NBA superstar center.
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