Ranking every Utah Jazz player by how impactful they can be this year
By Chad Porto
2. Walker Kessler
This may be too high for Walker Kessler, we respect that possibility and acknowledge that it exists. That said, he may be too low, as well. Kessler is only in his second season and isn’t the player offensively he needs to be to carry a team.
He may never be, that’s a possibility, but Utah Jazz head coach is pushing Walker Kessler to shoot a lot more outside of the paint. If he can even start hitting threes with any regularity, while also working on his shooting techniques from inside the paint, then Kessler could really do some damage for the Utah Jazz.
A consistent three-point shot would turn him into a more advanced version of Brook Lopez, and if that’s the best he ever is, then that’d be fantastic. That said, Kessler is up here because of his defensive impact on the game. Last year, it was beyond impressive.
This year, it needs to be even better, especially if the Jazz are to compete for a playoff spot. If Kessler struggles on defense, then the whole team falls apart. They don’t have the player depth or the skillsets among those players to replace him. So while we’re hoping Kessler earns this spot through his play, it’s also important to realize that he’s as high as he is, because of how important he is.
He may struggle, and if he does the Jazz are doomed. But if he doesn’t, if he succeeds, then the Jazz will be hard to beat every night.