Only a handful of players around the league are rebounding the ball better than Walker Kessler this season. On a per-game basis, he ranks sixth in total rebounds, sixth in offensive rebounds and 11th in defensive rebounds. When he’s on the floor, the Los Angeles Lakers’ offensive rebounding rate is 6.9% better than when he sits, according to Cleaning the Glass.
During Sunday’s impressive road victory over the Detroit Pistons, Kessler gobbled up 16 rebounds, seven of which came on the offensive glass.
Over his last six games, he’s collected 28 offensive rebounds. On a team full of talented on- and off-ball shot-makers, Kessler is helping give the Lakers more bites at the apple offensively.
“Seven offensive rebounds. The last six, seven games, he’s just been relentless with keeping possessions alive for us,” head coach JJ Redick told reporters Sunday. “I thought he was awesome. I thought he was awesome protecting the rim. … I love the consistency right now for him. He’s like, ‘I’m going to protect this rim and do it over and over and over again.’ He had a big and one there in the fourth.”
Kessler’s been a pretty prolific offensive rebounder since he debuted in 2022, averaging 3.4 per game for his career. In 2024-25 — his last fully healthy season — he led the NBA in both offensive rebounds per game (4.6) and offensive rebounding rate (16.6%). He recognizes his 7-foot-2 frame helps him excel but makes clear there’s much more to it than simply being tall and believes he has another level to reach — and will.
“Obviously with my size, that definitely helps, but definitely a lot of it is about timing,” Kessler said Sunday, when he chipped in 12 points, four assists, three blocks and one steal alongside his 16 boards. “A lot of it is about hitting the guy first, not getting pushed onto the rim and I got to do a better job of those balls that I get my hands on, securing the ball. But that comes with time and my hands get back normal, that’ll be good as well.”
You can follow Jackson on Twitter at @jackfrank_jjf.
