Milwaukee Bucks 2022 NBA Draft Scouting Report: Walker Kessler

With the Milwaukee Bucks holding the 24th pick in the 2022 NBA draft, one thing they might be looking to do is add another big man. Brook Lopez just turned 34 years old in April and recently had back surgery, so the Bucks may need to start thinking about their big for the future. Walker Kessler out of Auburn is someone who they might be interested in turning into the “next Brook Lopez.” Here is an analysis of his strengths and weaknesses and whether or not I believe he can fill that role.

(All stats provided by Synergy require a subscription)

Walker Kessler

• Position: Center
• College: Auburn
• Height: 7’1″
• Height: 250 lbs
• Stats: 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.6 blocks
  • 61 percent from the field, 20 percent from three, 60 percent from the line

  Milwaukee Bucks NBA Draft Scouting Report: Walker Kessler – Strengths

  Rim Protection

  Walker Kessler is the best rim protector in the entire draft, and one of the best prospects as a shot-blocker the league has seen in recent memory. With a 7’5″ wingspan along with great body control and leaping ability, Kessler is able to deter shots at the rim and he defends without fouling. He averages an incredible 4.6 blocks per game and 10 blocks per 100 possessions, and his block rate this past season was the highest for any college basketball player in the past 14 seasons. As a result, he was named the 2022 Naismith Men’s Defensive Player of the Year in college basketball. He should be an elite rim protector at the next level.

  Rebounding

  Kessler is an excellent rebounder with his size and length, grabbing 8.1 rebounds per game last season at Auburn and 12.6 rebounds per 40 minutes. He boxes out well, competes hard on the glass, and uses his length to grab a ton of boards. He also is great at locating and making outlet passes once he grabs a rebound.

  Finishing

  With his leaping ability and size, Kessler is able to clean up around the rim nicely on offense. He converted 73 percent of his shots at the rim this past season, which ranked in the 97th percentile, per Synergy. He is particularly good finishing as a roll man in the pick-and-roll, where he made an incredible 94 percent of his shots rolling to the basket, ranking in the 99th percentile. Kessler is a power finisher who converts down low with a lot of dunks or lobs, and he should be very good as a roller in the NBA.

  

  Milwaukee Bucks Draft Scouting Report: Walker Kessler – Weaknesses

  Outside Shooting

  Kessler does not have an outside shot at this point in time. He made just 20 percent of his threes last season and was just 21 percent on all jumpers. He also has not been a very good free throw shooting, shooting just 57.7 percent on free throws in his college career, which does not project well for his outside shot as a whole. While it’s not impossible that Kessler could develop an outside shot, there are very few signs right now that point to him being a reliable shooter in the NBA.

  Explosiveness/Quickness

  While he has very good body control and fluidity for his size, Kessler is still not the quickest or most explosive player. This can hurt him on defense in terms of his switchability on the perimeter, and it also can hurt him when he goes against physical and lengthy defenders. Bucks fans see this issue come into play with Brook Lopez, as although he is able to move around some on the perimeter, his lack of quickness can hurt him when switched onto smaller or quicker players defensively.

  Post Scoring

  While Kessler is good finishing with dunks, lobs, and rolling to the rim, his post game is not the best. He shot just 12-for-26 on post-ups last season, ranking in the 33rd percentile. He doesn’t have a ton of great post moves and does not look like someone who can really get his own shot at all. It looks like almost all of Kessler’s scoring will have to be from him cleaning up around the rim and others generating offense for him.

  

  Milwaukee Bucks Draft Scouting Report: Walker Kessler – Outlook

  Walker Kessler definitely could come in and be the future in the Brook Lopez role defensively for the Bucks. He has all the makings of the next great rim-protecting center in the NBA and could be just as good as Lopez at protecting the paint for years to come. His shot blocking numbers are incredible, and his combination of size and jumping ability is hard to come by. If the Bucks are looking for rim protection for the future, Kessler is likely the best prospect they could ask for.

  However, although Kessler can play the Brook Lopez role defensively, it doesn’t appear that he can do what Lopez can do offensively. Brook Lopez has been able to knock down threes over the years and space the floor, but right now there is very little to suggest that Kessler will have that type of versatility on offense. He can be a good roll man and lob threat, but he does not provide the floor spacing that the Bucks need around Giannis Antetokounmpo.

  If Walker Kessler had a more reliable outside shot or had more signs of being able to develop one, I would be more confident in him being the next Brook Lopez for the Bucks. Without that, though, it is difficult for me to see how he fits alongside Giannis offensively with how he will clog up the paint and be unable to space the floor. I love what he brings defensively, but the offensive fit is not there. If the Bucks do end up taking Kessler, it must mean that they are very confident in his ability to develop a 3-point shot.

  Grade for Bucks: C

  Stay tuned to see where Kessler lands in the 2022 NBA Draft.