Walker Kessler has admitted that emotions played a major role in his disappointing performance against his former team, the Utah Jazz, despite the Los Angeles Lakers securing a 132-123 victory on Sunday.
The 25-year-old center returned to Utah for the first time since being traded to Los Angeles during the offseason, but struggled to make an impact after picking up three early fouls.
Kessler finished with just two points, a significant drop from his opening two games with the Lakers, where he combined for 48 points on just four missed shots.
Following the victory, Kessler acknowledged that returning to the place where his NBA career began affected his performance.
“Going into the game, I definitely let my emotions get the best of me,” Kessler said on Spectrum SportsNet, according to Lakers Nation. “But you gotta learn from those moments and move on. But I’m glad we got the win tonight. And I’ve got a lot of thanks to give to my teammates, all of them. They definitely all played their role today and did a great job even though it wasn’t my best night. So definitely appreciative of them.”
The Lakers managed to overcome an 18-point first-quarter deficit, with Luka Doncic scoring 52 points and Austin Reaves adding 29 to help secure the comeback victory.
Kessler also admitted he had anticipated an emotional night against the franchise that drafted him into the NBA.
“I knew I’d have some emotions naturally just because it’s the first place I ever played, but yeah, definitely good to get it out of the way,” he said.
Despite his difficult return, Kessler has already shown why the Lakers pursued him during the offseason.
Through his first two games, the big man recorded 48 points, eight blocks and three steals, establishing himself as an important addition to JJ Redick’s roster.
Kessler won’t have to wait long for another opportunity against his former team, with Los Angeles scheduled to face Utah twice more on November 18 and November 23.
Both games will take place at Crypto.com Arena, giving Kessler the chance to bounce back against the Jazz on his new home court.
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