Walker Ross Kessler is a defensive stalwart who plays as a center for the Utah Jazz. Born on July 26, 2001, Kessler played two seasons in college basketball, a year each at UNC and Auburn. At Auburn, he emerged as a star player and was named the Defensive Player of the Year, and was part of the All-SEC First Team.
Due to his limited offensive game, Kessler fell to the 22nd pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. The Memphis Grizzlies selected him, and he was initially traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves on draft day. But just 20 days after the draft, he became a key part of the blockbuster trade for Rudy Gobert, ultimately finding his home with the Utah Jazz.
Jazz fans held high hopes that the young Kessler would serve as a fitting replacement for their departing three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, and they were not disappointed. Kessler’s rookie performances exceeded expectations, as he seemed like a firsthand prototype of the Frenchman.
With the Jazz, Kessler has emerged as a defensive star and a great rim protector. He has remarkable lateral quickness for his size, and demonstrated excellent anticipation on the court. His ability to read drives effectively allows him to skillfully swat away layup attempts by guards. In the 2022/23 rookies season, Kessler had nine games where he had five or more blocks, leading all rookies.
With an impressive 2.3 blocks per game in his rookie season, Kessler has a bright future in the NBA.
Walker Kessler Contract Breakdown
| Year | Base Salary | SigningBonus | Cap Hit | Dead Cap | Yearly Cash |
| 2023-24 | $2,831,160 | - | $2,831,160 | - | $2,831,160 |
| 2024-25 (Team Option Exercised) | $2,965,920 | $2,965,920 | $2,965,920 | ||
| 2025-26 (Team Option) | $4,878,938 | $4,878,938 | $4,878,938 |
How much is Walker Kessler getting paid?
Walker Kessler is set to earn $2,831,160 for the 2023/24 season.
According to Sportrac, he agreed to a four-year rookie scale contract with the Utah Jazz, worth $13,372,418 guaranteed.
How much does Walker Kessler make in a minute?
Walker Kessler’s salary for the 2023/24 season is $2,831,160. One year is known to have 525,600 minutes. If his total salary is divided by the number of minutes available in a year, then Kessler makes around $5.3 in a minute.
Walker Kessler Career Earnings
After the end of the 2023/24 NBA season, Kessler would have earned more than $5.5 million from his NBA contracts.
What are the terms of Walker Kessler’s contract?
Kessler’s standard rookie scale contract has team options after second and third seasons. This means Utah Jazz holds the option to decide if they wish to sign him for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 season.
Utah has already exercised their team option for the 2024/25 season.
How much of the Walker Kessler Contract is guaranteed?
Walker Kessler’s contract worth $8,493,380 is guaranteed until the 2024/25 NBA season. Fourth season of the contract is non-guaranteed, as of December 2023.
Walker Kessler Contract History
These are all the contracts that Walker Kessler has signed in his career till now.
July 9, 2022
Walker Kessler signed a four-year $13.3 million contract with the Utah Jazz.
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FAQs
A. Walker Kessler hails from Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
A. Walker Kessler was drafted 22nd overall in the 2022 NBA Draft.
A. Walker Kessler played collegiate basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels and Auburn Tigers.
A. Walker Kessler wears jersey #24 for the Utah Jazz in the NBA.
A. Walker Kessler averaged 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game in 74 games throughout the 2022/23 season.
