Inside The Jazz

Jazz C Walker Kessler Eyeing Team USA Debut Against Puerto Rico

The Utah Jazz’s standout rookie from last season hopes to make his mark in FIBA play.
Jared Koch|
Jazz C Walker Kessler Eyeing Team USA Debut Against Puerto Rico
Jazz C Walker Kessler Eyeing Team USA Debut Against Puerto Rico

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Utah Jazz

Monday night marks the beginning of the highly-anticipated FIBA play this offseason for the United States, as the team faces off against Puerto Rico. One of the Utah Jazz’s five FIBA representatives, Walker Kessler, will look to make an early impact on this team full of rising stars.

While the match is to be just an exhibition game, it is a perfect opportunity for fans to get a quick look at how this roster will mesh before higher stake games down the line. While Kessler is likely set to come off the bench in tonight’s game and other games moving forward, his defensive impact will be immensely valued on this roster by Steve Kerr.

Coach Kerr discussed some of the strategies that come with forming together a high-caliber lineup like the one he currently has on this national stage:

"But it's not easy, because usually you're talking about 12 starters in the NBA. ...

These guys are all starters and great players.

Part of the FIBA commitment is none of that stuff matters. There's no contracts on the line. Nobody's getting traded. This is just us for six weeks, and I expect the same thing to happen here is what happened in [2021, for the Olympics] and in [2019, for the World Cup], in terms of the buy-in and the effort and the energy and the intensity, and, we'll see what happens.

”

- Steve Kerr, via Tim Bontemps of

ESPN

.

With the lack of competition for playing time at big (Jaren Jackson and Bobby Portis being the only other centers on the roster), Jazz fans can still expect Kessler to hold a substantial role in the rotation even without being a part of the star-studded starting give.

By providing necessary rim protection and size, he offers a unique and coveted skillset for this roster that will be a big piece of this team’s success. While his initial time on the floor in this exhibition may be limited, he can easily carve a role in the rotation as the World Cup progresses.

Team USA’s exhibition in Las Vegas will be broadcasted on FS1 at 8 PM MT/10 PM ET. It will be the first of a few exhibitions played with games later this week against Slovenia, Spain, Greece, and Germany.

Along with Kessler, the Jazz will have Lauri Markkanen (Finland), Kelly Olynyk (Canada), Jordan Clarkson (Phillippines), and Simone Fonteccio (Italy) all competing for the gold this August. The United States still stands as the heavy favorite (-105 via DraftKings), but it will be far from a walk in the park.

With all eyes focused on a bounce-back summer for the U.S. from 2019, Walker Kessler and his country will have some steep competition around the globe looking to take home first place.

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Jared Koch
JARED KOCH

Jared Koch is the deputy editor of Utah Jazz On SI. He's covered the NBA and NFL for the past two years, contributing to Denver Broncos On SI, Indianapolis Colts On SI, and Sacramento Kings On SI. He has covered multiple NBA and NFL events on site, and his works have also appeared on Bleacher Report, MSN, and Yahoo.

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