Walker Kessler chasing gold medal with U.S. national team

Jun 26, 2023

Center Walker Kessler of the United States scores against Puerto Rico during the USA Basketball Showcase on Aug. 7, 2023, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The United States finished seventh in the previous FIBA World Cup. But for the 19th international tournament, Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler knows the expectation back home is for the United States to win the gold medal.

“Team USA, we are held to a higher standard and on this kind of pedestal where it’s expected to win,” Kessler said. “A lot of people could think of that as a lot of added pressure, but for us, I kind of look at it like it’s more of a good thing. For people to think that highly of you, there’s some aspect that you’re deserving of it.”

The former Auburn standout is on the 12-player U.S. national team that will open Group C play against New Zealand at 7:30 a.m. CDT Saturday at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines. ESPN2 will televise the game.

“To actually have the opportunity to represent your country on an international scale, I’m super excited about it, super thankful,” Kessler said. “I’m just ready for it.”

The United States also plays Greece at 7:30 a.m. Monday and Jordan at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday in pool play.

The 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup is being held in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia from Friday through Sept. 10. The 32 teams will play in 92 games across 16 days.

The United States won the FIBA World Cup tournaments in 2010 and 2014 to lift its gold-medal count to five before losing to France 89-79 in the quarterfinals of the 2019 tourney.

This year’s U.S. squad warmed up for the tournament by winning five exhibition games.

Kessler has played a reserve role for the United States, backing up the Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. as the team’s centers.

Kessler’s top game during the five-game USA Basketball Showcase came in a 108-86 victory over Greece on Aug. 18 in the United Arab Emirates. He had seven points and five rebounds in 16 minutes on the court.

The other players on the U.S team are guards Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks, Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers, Josh Hart of the Knicks and Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers and forwards Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic, Mikal Bridges of the Brooklyn Nets, Brandon Ingram of the New Orleans Jazz, Cam Johnson of the Nets and Bobby Portis of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors is the team’s coach.

“This is going to sound really cheesy, really like church camp, but you just got to hear me out,” Kessler said. “Working together as a team, like competing and trying to achieve a common goal, going through the struggles and the ups and downs with your brothers and then finally coming out on top, I just think there’s no fun like that.”

Kessler led the nation in blocked shots and won the National Association of Basketball Coaches Defensive Player of the Year Award while playing for Auburn in the 2021-22 season.

Chosen at No. 22 by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2022 NBA Draft, Kessler averaged 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks while playing in 74 games, with 40 starts, for Utah after being traded twice before his first NBA season.

Kessler started the final 34 games that he played and averaged 11.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.9 blocks in that span. Kessler missed the final four games of Utah’s season after sustaining a concussion.

Kessler led the NBA’s rookies with 20 games with at least 10 points and 10 rebounds, and his .720 shooting percentage was the second-best in NBA history for a player with at least 400 shots in a season.

Kessler was a member of the NBA All-Rookie team and finished third in the voting for the KIA NBA Rookie of the Year Award for the 2022-23 season.

Kessler said he has added 15 pounds “of muscle” this offseason to prepare for his second NBA campaign.

“As far as the second year, I’m really excited to hit the ground running,” Kessler said, “going into this year, having some familiarity with the league, the NBA and being comfortable in knowing what I can immediately do from the start. But more than that is applying what I’ve worked on in this offseason and applying what I’ve learned from last year and having more confidence in that and getting a bigger role asked of me because of that. And I welcome it. I know my coaching staff has been unbelievable supportive and encouraging, and because of that, I’m just pumped for it.”

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

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