A lot of people are saying this is a swing factor for him I dont necessarily disagree, but I dont think being a legit 3PT threat will make or break his career. If Kessler is going to become a starting-caliber big in the NBA, he needs to address the mobility concerns a tad, or be utilized in a scheme that exposes him to the perimeter less. Auburn Tigers lead . Due to limited playing time, he transferred to Auburn. Please play responsibly. DraftKings operates pursuant to an Operating Agreement with iGaming Ontario. Not super skilled as a playmaker/ball handler but definitely interesting to watch. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. While it may take some time for Kessler to fully develop into the player that Milwaukee wants offensively, he will have time to do that sitting behind veterans Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez. FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - FEBRUARY 08 (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images). However, he still finished around 73% of his shots at the rim (not post-ups) according to Synergy. Runs the floor hard in transition, has good strides down the floor. Defensive discipline is lacking for Kessler with many of his fouls, especially on the perimeter. The average cost to live in Ho Chi Minh city was around 25 thousand US$. Pro Comparison: Brook Lopez. His ORB%, DRB%, and TRB% at Auburn were 10.9%, 22.2%, and 16.6%. Walker Kessler is the best rim protector in the entire draft, and one of the best prospects as a shot . Later in the mock draft, Auburn's Walker Kessler is selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 18th overall selection. Here's the scouting report for Kessler from 247Sports . during the 2021 NBA Playoffs. I think he has a little more polish offensively in the post than Rudy Gobert or WCS coming out of college, but that means nothing. From November, when he averaged 7.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.2 bloc How good was Kessler anchoring Auburns defense as a top-ten team in the country for most of the year? On the offensive end he plays like a combo forward trapped in a centers body. 2022 NBA Draft scouting report for Auburn C Walker Kessler, Full schedule, bracket for 2023 Southland Conference Tournament. With his leaping ability and size, Kessler is able to clean up around the rim nicely on offense. Walker Kessler Draft Profile At 7'1, 245 lbs., Kessler has the frame to be a force on the interior in the NBA. Walker Kessler's 2023 draft profile. 6-11, 220 | Class of 2020. Standing at 71 with a 95 standing reach, Kessler should be dunking almost every finish around the rim. Recruiting Activity; Scouting Report; Player News; Scouting Report. Most of what Kessler is going to do early on in his career on offense will come from pure heart and hustle on the offensive glass and in designs for him as a screener. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Walker Kessler was a top 25 recruit out of high school. This was also the strength of Kessler at Auburn, he set an NCAA record last season in block rate. Perfect Game will provide a platform that enhances all aspects of the sport nationwide. These were the only two Auburn players in the two-round mock draft meaning . For any kind of hedging, switches, etc. Walker Kessler Scouting Report 2022 NBA Draft youtu.be/6yo61fSL_mg via @YouTube. Fantastic size and length help him make his huge defensive impact . Utah's rookie leads the entire NBA in blocks off the bench . Struggled to Defend PNPs, Ghost Screens, etc. Jerry Meyer Director of Basketball Scouting. Cookie Notice Im not expecting him to be a double-digit boards guy for his career. Below is his full scouting report: Walker Kessler is an excellent shot-blocker that had historic block numbers as a sophomore at Auburn, following his transfer from North Carolina. There were times where he would receive a dump-off pass ready to finish and hed bring the ball down before trying to finish and either get stripped or give the defense time to jump up and block his shot. The Minnesota Timberwolves addressed their interior defense by selecting Auburn center Walker Kessler with the No. The NBA is a different game based more on skill and angles, not as much size. Scouting Report: Walker just put together arguably the most productive shot-blocking season on record in terms of production per minute. Verticality is well-taught and drilled into his brain: he jumps straight up and is constantly trying to leap off the floor in that manner. Big men who protect the rim have clear value in their translation to the NBA. At 71, 245 lbs., Kessler has the frame to be a force on the interior in the NBA. Walker Kessler. Position: C. Height: 7'0". This site is now updating for the 2022-2023 season. Offensively, Kessler is an efficient finisher near the rim who converted on 30 of 32 pick-and-roll attempts diving to the hoop, according to Synergy Sports Tech. Tipico Sportsbook gets exact with Kessler's draft position. Has nimble feet for a footer . His lack of speed, especially against guards, throws him off balance. Tim Connelly and the rest of the front office seemed to fill some of those holes with their first-round pick in Kessler. Stay tuned to see what the team will do in the NBA Draft. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/leaders/blk-pct-player-season.html, https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/seasons/2022-leaders.html. Kessler averaged 8.1 RPG, including 2.6 OREBs and 5.4 DREBs. He boxes out well, competes hard on the glass, and uses his length to grab a ton of boards. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Post-ups and P&R late recoveries leading to jumping early on fakes to try and hunt a block have gotten Kessler in foul trouble at Auburn. He should be an elite rim protector at the next level. With the 7'0" big man hovering around the rim, the Tigers held opponents to 38.6 percent shooting, seventh-best in Division I. Kessler was honored as a third-team All-American and the Naismith Defensive Payer of the Year. Projection . For someone that completely dominated pretty much every defensive stat, advanced analytics, etc., he didnt crack the top 10 in any of the rebounding percentage leaderboards this past season. Rankings. Get the latest news and updates on Walker Kessler from The Athletic. AUBURN, Ala. (AP) Auburn center Walker Kessler, who was chosen the nation's top defensive player, plans to enter the NBA Draft. Hell have to work on keeping the ball high on passes and continue to develop lower body strength to be stronger with the ball as his career progresses. Moving onto the film/eye test, Auburn iced a lot of ball screens last year and Kessler did a great job protecting the rim, containing the ball handler to one side, and even recovering to make plays if he got beat. He may be block-hungry but in the NBA he will have to get better in this area if he wants to stay out of foul trouble and play significant minutes. youtu.be Walker Kessler Scouting Report 2022 NBA Draft In today's video, I will break down Walker Kessler, a projected 1st Round pick in the 2022 NBA draft. Kessler can handle in the open court and break the defender down off the dribble. Explore all of Walker Kessler's NBA stats. While Kessler doesn't fit the profile of the floor-stretching 5 coveted by NBA teams, rim protection will always have a place in the Association. The SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and one of college basketballs most prolific shot blockers in its history, Walker Kessler had a dynamic breakout year following his transfer from North Carolina to Auburn. Walker Kessler was picked 22nd in the 2022 NBA draft to the Minnesota Timberwolves. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 4.6 blocks per game and 10 blocks per 100 possessions, Stats: 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.6 blocks, 61 percent from the field, 20 percent from three, 60 percent from the line. Good rim protector. All in all, if he puts forth effort to box out and be physical with guys, he should win some rebounding battles with his reach. Hes got a nice touch around the rim and from mid range and should continue to expand his range over the next few years. If he can get 6-10 PPG just from PNRs, FTs, OREBs, and dump offs, thats more than enough. Auburn lands a big time center prospect who left UNC after his freshman season. Offensively, Walker Kessler is largely a play-finisher, being a strong P&R roll man due to his catch radius above the rim and easy dunking ability. Hes also one of three college basketball players ever to register 150 blocks and 10 made 3-pointers in the same season. FutureView. Especially in todays NBA, having a roll man make good decisions out of short rolls in a spaced floor full of shooters is an extremely desirable trait. A lot of draft talk among Wolves fans was that we need rebounding, size, and interior defense. 17 Tennessee As the season has progressed, so too has Auburn's Walker Kessler. H.S. Walker Kessler out of Auburn is someone who they might be interested in turning into the next Brook Lopez. Here is an analysis of his strengths and weaknesses and whether or not I believe he can fill that role. Kessler's length, mobility, and rim protection give him a unique skill set, allowing him to provide great impact on an NBA floor. Scouting Walker Kessler: Projection. Office . On our 17th installment of #ScoutingSundays for the 2022 NBA Draft, we break down potential lottery pick Walker Kessler's season with Auburn as well as his N. Hes not jumping high to block shots or catch lobs which can be frustrating at times because he misses some easy shots around the rim. Shot-blocking specimen with great instincts as a rim-protector Fantastic size and length help him make his huge defensive impact Wiry, so he might need to get stronger so he doesnt get pushed around on the glass Solid shooting stroke, but the numbers dont reflect that yet Drop defender against pick-and-roll Has trouble when asked to switch Good finisher down low, though not a great one due to just-decent athleticism. Walker Kessler is a great fit for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2022 NBA Draft. Kessler also has a knack for the boards, as he averaged 8.1 rebounds per game during his final season at Auburn and 12.6 rebounds per 40 minutes. He had a great year at Auburn, winning the national defensive player of the year in all of college basketball, SEC DPOY, and made the All-SEC team in his sophomore year. Pos. Saw some good passes from him throughout his possession clips, making good reads out of short rolls, finding cutters, Hi-Lo looks from 3PT-line to high post area. The most obvious number that jumps out is the blocks, and Kessler is going to wreak havoc in the interior at the next level. Alabama. Maybe even the weather. The biggest issue that most have with Kessler is his lack of offensive ability at this stage of his career. Report: Bears 'leaning toward' trading the No. With the 7'0" big man hovering around the rim, the Tigers held opponents to 38.6 percent shooting, seventh-best in Division I. Kessler was honored as a third-team All-American and the Naismith Defensive Payer of the Year. Walker Kessler. the Los Angeles Clippers deployed against Rudy Gobert. 22 overall pick of the 2022 NBA draft. Yet when I hear most other fans speak of Kessler, most would prefer the team to stay away from him. with Ice Coverage. Kessler made the most of his one season at Auburn after transferring in from North Carolina. mid first to mid second round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft or 2023 NBA Draft, 5-Star Corner: Patrick Baldwin Jr. Interview, A Closer Look At Bronny James as a NBA Draft Prospect, Talented Sons of Famous NBA Fathers Part 2, The 10 Top Freshmen In High School Basketball Class of 2026 Recruits, Re-Draft of the 2022 NBA Draft, Top 20 2 Months Into The Season, My Guys Prospects Im Irrationally High On In The 2023 Draft, 2023 NBA Draft Big Board Early Season Edition, Upperclassmen Moving Up The Draft Board The Desmond Bane Effect, The Elite 25 The Top NBA Prospects In High School Basketball Fall 2022, 2026 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings (2025 recruiting class), Victor Wembanyamas Physical Profile and NBA Comparisons. Kessler is emerging as a big time center prospect who contributes on both ends of the floor. Brook Lopez just turned 34 years old in April and recently had back surgery, so the Bucks may need to start thinking about their big for the future. If I had to toss out a peak stat line, it would probably look like 10-12 PPG/6-8 RPG/2-3 APG/2-2.5 BPG. Gambling Problem? Fairburn, GA - 2020. Scouting Report: Walker just put together argably the most productive shot-blocking season on record in terms of production per minute. Hes fairly nimble for his size and will be a good screener once he puts on strength. Kessler is a power finisher who converts down low with a lot of dunks or lobs, and he should be very good as a roller in the NBA. Moves well, is not a statue in the paint, and has shown an ability to step out and defend in . pic.twitter.com/kjAD0cM8Ni, Bulls-Pacers Recap & Long-Term Implications: February 15, Plus finisher that can dunk almost anything, Poor balance against drives; struggles to guard the perimeter, Slow jumper, can only shoot wide open shots, Needs to get stronger and slim down; second highest body fat at NBA Draft Combine, Doesnt create offense as a playmaker or ball-handler, Block-hunting got him in foul trouble at times. Hometown Fairburn, Ga. . Here goes. Hes a smart player and you cant teach IQ and awareness. The 20-year-old might have a long career ahead. He can impact jump shooters that dribble in place and resort to a one-dribble stepback, but cannot handle change of speeds, especially against drives. 3 Auburn into No. The 7-foot-1 North Carolina transfer announced his decision . NBA Draft content related to the Dallas Mavericks. Walker Kessler's father, Chad, played basketball at Georgia. His ORB%, DRB%, and TRB% were 15.3%, 21%, and 18%. Miami attacked him endlessly in their 5-out scheme, mirroring the attack. Kessler gives the team an opportunity to continue their drop coverage scheme defensively because of the type of player that he is in terms of rim protection. Both Miami and Jacksonville State targeted him on the perimeter (and head coach Bruce Pearl wasnt smart enough to expose him less to those situations, continuing to hard hedge or let teams force switches onto guards). Walker Kessler. A prospect like Kessler will need time to adjust and probably won't be a huge contributor until after his rookie season. Walker Kessler (28%) made his first career start Wednesday and boy did he make the most of it! Shot-blocking specimen with great instincts as a rim-protector. Field Goals. Hes not going to be an offensive player in the NBA. Kessler is also a strong rebounder and isnt afraid to mix things up in the middle. Walker Kessler leads No. Excellent positional size at 7'1". HometownFairburn, GA Class2020. Mar 11, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports, Mar 18, 2022; Greenville, SC, USA: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports. Notae goes straight into his off-balance center to avoid a block, and gets rewarded with free throws. It's clear Kessler is a significantly better player now than he was at the beginning of the season. On a disappointing UNC team stuck behind a first round pick in Sharpe and without good point guard play from Caleb Love, Kessler essentially showed flashes in only 2 games as a freshman. Kessler made the most of his one season at Auburn after transferring in from North Carolina. His lack of strength hinders his ability to score and guard in the post as well. Last year, he played in the Australia U18 Nationals for Queensland South where he led all scorers averaging almost 27 points per game. Privacy Policy. Walker Kessler, a 7-foot center and UNC commit, is The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's all-classification boys player of the year for 2019-2020. Player: Walker Kessler. QB prospect makes big jump into top 10 as scouting combine beckons. Miami attacked him endlessly in their 5-out scheme, mirroring the attack the Los Angeles Clippers deployed against Rudy Gobert during the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Rim Protection. Are you sure you want to report Kessler's team for inappropriate content? Kessler reminds me a lot of Brook Lopez and hes really a development of a three-point shot away from bringing to the table exactly what Lopez does for the Bucks. 15 Greatest Draft Picks in Franchise History. Thats really about it when it comes to his offensive game though and thats what is so worrying about him at this point in time. Many of the strengths of Kessler get neutralized by NBA tempo, which could be quick to play him out of the league. The Grizzlies and their fans, and team management, have adopted "Whoop that trick" as their rally cry. Kessler is an excellent rebounder with his size and length, grabbing 8.1 rebounds per game last season at Auburn and 12.6 rebounds per 40 minutes. . North Carolina has set itself up for success for years to come with this incoming 2020 recruiting class. We break down Auburn C Walker Kessler with a scouting report and outlook heading into the 2022 NBA Draft. Wilson later denied the report: "I never wanted them fired." a day ago. The concerns with Kessler are not on the defensive end, however. The NBA is quick and relentless in exposing bad defensive traits, such as lateral quickness and defensive discipline, which will burn Kessler. Kessler finished with nine points (4-6 FG, 1-2 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists, five blocks and one steal across 27 . UFC 285 Main Card Picks on DraftKings Sportsbook. 1 pick in 2022 NBA Draft. . Milwaukee Bucks 2022 NBA Draft Scouting Report: Patrick Baldwin Jr. by Nathan Marzion. Odds and lines subject to change. In 2020, the total population of Ho Chi Minh city reached 8.6 million people, with a growth rate 2020-2030 predicted at 28.5%. He converted 73 percent of his shots at the rim this past season, which ranked in the 97th percentile, per Synergy. Player: Walker Kessler Position: C Height: 7'0" Pro Comparison: Brook Lopez Scouting Report: Walker just put together arguably . A player with a high assist rate is likely to produce a lot of . 24. As a reserve, he averaged 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. He shows flashes of switchability onto the perimeter, good ground coverage from the weak side and a comfort level that very few his size have away from the hoop. Hes the only player in the basketball-reference database to post a block rate of 19% or over while playing more than 400 minutes in a season. Despite the prolific season, Kessler certainly has a lot of areas to clean up on that end of the floor. Akron. Eligibility restrictions apply. If you like my channel please subscribe if you haven't . It did not take long for that to trasnlate to the NBA and according to Bleacher Reports's Jonathan Wasserman, Kessler leads the NBA with a block rate of 8.4%, counting players who have played at latest 500 minutes. With the Milwaukee Bucks holding the 24th pick in the 2022 NBA draft, one thing they might be looking to do is add another big man. Do you find this scouting report inaccurate/outdated? Good motor and active on the offensive glass. He tries to block. For what its worth, he had similar combine measurements to Steven Adams. Scouting Report Evaluated 06/29/2018. Walker Kessler NBA Draft news, analysis, videos, stats and team projection from BasketballNews.com . The NBA has a way of playing immobile big men off the floor, which could be a fatal flaw for Kessler. This is a great stat when scouting back-up point guards who may be in line for increased playing time. , so he lunges at perimeter shooters, bites on nearly every pump fake and gets himself into trouble as a result. He was a consensus 5-star prospect coming out of high school . Although he does have some concerns about strength and offensive game, hes not coming to an NBA team to be that guy. Defenders are able wall up and get him off balance on his jump hooks and post fades. Kessler knows how to get the ball, whether its for a rebound, blocking a shot, or for a ball that is loose anywhere on the floor. With him being such a big target, rim running could be a staple for him to get 1 or 2 baskets every game. Learn about Walker Kessler and other recruit player profiles on RecruitingNation.com. His arms come down to swat at shots, which create fouls when he misses the ball, and he jumps forward while his arms are straight up, defeating the purpose of verticality altogether. Walker Kessler now has 83 blocks this season as a rookie with the Toronto Raptors ' Christian Koloko coming in second with 45. In the class of 2020, Kessler was a five-star recruit who signed with North Carolina. The 2022 NBA Draft order has been set and the list of eligible players is officially locked in. Fights for rebounds. Kessler's latest work in this breakout 2021-22 season was a second triple-double, which led Auburn to a 75-58 win against Texas A&M on Saturday. 245 lbs. He finished the season with 155 blocks, tops in the nation, and tied for the national lead with 4.6 blocks per game. Spin . Mobile and agile; moves well for a 7 footer. Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Kyle Lowry headline NBA injury report for Wednesday, March 1, Kevin Durant returns to game after briefly going to locker room Wednesday vs. Hornets, Pick against the spread, over/under for 76ers vs. Heat on Wednesday, Senators acquire D Jakob Chychrun from Coyotes. . Strengths: Has excellent size for the position at 7'1", 245 pounds. Below are some of his strengths and weaknesses: Obviously this is the main skill with Kessler. He averaged around 11 PPG/8 RPG/1 APG/1 SPG/4.6 BPG. Walker Kessler is the best rim protector in the entire draft, and one of the best prospects as a shot-blocker the league has seen in recent memory. Contact us here: hoopshype@hoopshype.com, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. His lack of ability in the post and as an outside shooter are valid concerns, but those kinds of things can be developed with NBA coaches and veteran players to help guide him along the way. 06/10/2022. If you think highly of Brook Lopez, then I dont see why you wouldnt think highly of Walker Kessler. Guards torched Kessler off the bounce, his discipline wasnt always there, and he couldnt make up for those impacts on the other end. He also is great at locating and making outlet passes once he grabs a rebound. Injury Reports; Player Notes; Player Props New; NBA Roster Changes; Can't Cut List; Stat Corrections; Research. To compare, Steven Adams averaged 6.3 RPG in 23.4 MPG at Pitt. Overall, Walker Kessler must become a good shooter and have his finishing translate, while being a good shot blocker that doesnt get exposed on the perimeter to translate up to the NBA. Free Throws. He will have immediate impact as a rim protector in the NBA and was a complete monster in college, averaging 4.56 blocks per game (40th on the All-Time BPG Single Season Leaderboard). Ideally, a defender should stunt at the popping big and recover to their own man to buy Kessler time to recover back, but teams that ran flat middle ball screens were getting open looks against Auburns ice coverage. one thing they might be looking to do is add another big man. He should be able to impact an NBA team on the defensive end right away and has game-changing potential on that end as I mentioned earlier. He's a limited athlete and scorer, but signs of shooting confidence suggest he's capable of eventually adding a three-ball to complement his rim protection. Overview; . Pulled some clips of him handling in transition in open space. Milwaukee Bucks NBA Draft Scouting Report: Walker Kessler - Strengths. Player Profile Report. He does a tremendous job of getting open in screening action as the roller on pick-and-roll plays. For more information, please see our The oddsmakers there have his line at 24.5, with even -110 odds of him either being picked before or after No. Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report. 15 Greatest Draft Picks in Franchise History. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. In my opinion, this is the most frustrating weakness. Happy Saturday and welcome to another edition of Cap'n Kielar's Best Bets. The 7-foot-1 sophomore finished with 12 points (10 . Vanderbilt Commodores center Liam Robbins (21) takes a jump shot over Auburn Tigers player Walker Kessler (13) at Auburn Arena in Auburn, Ala., on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. Kessler is emerging as a big time center prospect who contributes on both ends of the floor. The biggest questions for evaluating Kesslers defensive trajectory is how much that can carry over to an NBA floor. Ultimately, I think he has the potential to be a game-changing defender in the NBA, although if it does happen it will not happen in the first couple years. It is possible that the Tar Heels produce multiple one . The NBA trade deadline and LeBron James overtaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in scoring could happen in the same week. Connelly and staff said it best - we won't be able to judge these picks after Summer League or even after year 1. 1 pick in 2023 NFL draft. The team and fans certainly have their favorite targets. Moreover, the NCAA Tournament exposed some issues with projecting his movement in space at the next level. Salary: $2,696,400. Pictures & Videos. Articles. DRAFT SCOUTING REPORTS: Chet Holmgren | Paulo Banchero. Among them for me is Walker Kessler. Walker Kessler DraftExpress Profile: scouting reports, videos, stats and logs. As far as skill goes, Kessler is behind many other bigs in the category. D raft E xpress. Scan this QR code to download the app now. He is now a member of the 2022 NBA Draft class. Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images The Timberwolves made it to the playoffs for the first time since 2017-18 after finishing seventh in the West and defeating the Clippers in their play-in game. In a league where most players have mastered playing around length, Kessler will need to iron that out quickly. Orlando Magic win draft lottery, get No. Walker Kessler: 2022 NBA Draft Scouting Report. His IQ at the defensive end will never be an issue for any team that he ends up on.
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