Jazz C Walker Kessler Sounds Off on Posterizing Lauri Markkanen in FIBA

Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler knows which teammate he wants to face off with.

Center Walker Kessler won’t hold back if given the opportunity to posterize his Utah Jazz teammate Lauri Markkanen in the FIBA World Cup. The second-year Jazzman sounded off on the possibility with JP Chunga on the Roundball Roundup Podcast featured on the Jazz's YouTube channel. 

Kessler was asked who he most wants to block in the FIBA World Cup. 

"Lauri—I want Lauri to try and dunk on me, and I block him and just look at him,” Kessler said. “But obviously, it goes hand and hand because he might sneak one past me and dunk on me. And even if that happened, I was—I don’t know what we would—we would probably laugh about it, but yeah, I’d say Lauri.”

Pretty sure we're all wanting a Lauri/Walker matchup during the @fibawc 👀 @WalkerKessler13 joins #RoundballRoundup to talk about his summer with @usabasketball.

📺 Watch now on YouTube and download wherever you get your podcasts ⤵️

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) August 11, 2023

Indeed, that would be entertaining for Jazz fans — although arguably, Utah’s two best players would need to advance to the later rounds if it ever were to happen. Then there’s the issue of Kessler finding minutes on the court, playing for a team loaded with top-tier NBA talent.

However, despite only playing five minutes in Team USA’s 117-74 victory over Puerto Rico, Kessler could still be an important piece moving forward. Currently, he is the only traditional center on the team and could see a spike in minutes if there’s a matchup that requires Team USA to go big. But until then, finding playing time could be difficult playing in head coach Steve Kerr’s system of spreading it out with five capable three-point shooters. 

Either way, Kessler’s experience on the international stage can only help his development as he approaches year two as a pro. Salt Lake Tribune Jazz beat writer Andy Larsen touched on the subject when he joined Spence Checketts on ESPN 700's The Drive.

"That opportunity to represent the US[A] and play on the biggest stage—the biggest international stage and do it in a different environment is a really cool opportunity for a 21-year-old kid,” Larsen told Checketts. “I still am excited about Walker getting the chance. I think if Bobby Portis struggles, they could go to Walker Kessler pretty quickly. But regardless of whether he plays or how much he plays, it’s a really cool opportunity for a guy who only has one year of NBA experience.”

Team USA has four more exhibition games before it’s time to play for keeps starting on August 25. Jazz fans can get a glimpse of Kessler this weekend when Team USA faces off against Slovenia on Saturday and Spain on Sunday.

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