When Walker Kessler left the North Carolina Tar Heels and transferred to the Auburn Tigers in 2021, there was an expectation that an increased role could lead to good things on the Plains. Few could've predicted how dominant Kessler would become, not only in the SEC but also in the NBA.
While Kessler missed most of the 2025-26 season after undergoing shoulder surgery in November, he was showing the same dominant streak he had shown for years, blocking shots and finishing at the rim at a sky-high rate. For his pro career, Kessler has a blocking percentage over 8%. At Auburn, it was more than double that. Kessler also has a career field goal conversion rate in the NBA that sits just under 70%.
For the last five years, Kessler has been a dominant two-way force. This offseason, he is reportedly set to cash out on his rookie-scale extension, whether with the Utah Jazz or another franchise. Kessler, as one could guess after seeing those efficiency numbers, is a hot commodity league-wide and could be sought in sign-and-trade scenarios.
Kessler's valuation is that of a second-tier star. Per BasketNews' Edvinas Kuzas, "Kessler is expected to command a deal worth around $25-30 million per season as he enters restricted free agency. While this represents a significant financial commitment, Kessler's size, shot-blocking, rebounding, and long-term upside may justify the cost."
That second part of Kuzas's statement is the key. Kessler's long-term upside has many believing he could develop into more than just a Tyson Chandler in the middle. And that's not to denigrate Chandler in the slightest. The 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks don't win it all without Chandler putting the clamps on the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. "Linsanity" doesn't run wild with the New York Knicks either, without an elite roll man for Jeremy Lin to find on lobs and for a defensive anchor like Chandler to tie it all together. Kessler may have even more offensive potential than Chandler, though.
Nobody would've thought that had Kessler's career not been changed by Bruce Pearl. Kessler's career could've gone nowhere fast in Chapel Hill after the coaching change from Roy Williams to Hubert Davis. Instead, it went to the moon.
Kessler is the definition of Auburn-made. And it was for a very obvious reason he always had a chance to become his best self in the Loveliest Village.
Walker Kessler had a coach who believed in him with Bruce Pearl
Whether Williams was checked out of the job after 18 seasons at UNC or not, Kessler didn't get the kind of attention a somewhat obvious NBA difference-maker should've received on the Tar Heels. Institutionally, the program didn't make much of an effort to retain him once it was clear Williams was calling it a career following the COVID-19-stricken, half-capacity 2020-21 season.
North Carolina didn't believe in Kessler. Pearl did more than anyone. That belief, and what it inspired, brought a regular-season SEC Championship, complete with a 15-3 conference record, to the program's list of accolades. It also created an NBA star who is representing AU well at the next level.
Pearl went out on a limb when the two were drafted and predicted Kessler would be better than Chet Holmgren. While the Oklahoma City Thunder star got off to a big lead last year, helping OKC win the Finals, Kessler still has a chance to make good on Pearl's premise.
Pearl's belief in Kessler was one of the most important things that ever happened to his career. Kessler's commitment in 2021 out of the portal was one of the most important things to happen in Pearl's career.
Beautiful symmetry from two men who believe in Auburn, and love it.
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