Will Kessler be an ALL STAR?

[ForeverRDjazz]

Technically he already is since he's averaging more blocks than Gobert, huh?

Rudy's block numbers are a direct result of players deciding not to test him. They see Rudy underneath and decide to pull the ball back out or pass. Rudy can't block shots that other players won't take.

If Kessler continues to block shots like this, he may run into the same thing, but right now nobody is afraid to test him, so he's getting a lot more opportunities to block shots than Rudy is getting.

100%

So part of me is looking at Rudy's last couple years and 3 DPOY and saying Walker is no where close but if we look and each players rookie years I'd say Walker is light years ahead of Rudy. If like saying is MJ better than LBJ. Both great players and would've loved both in a jazz jersey and would've cheered that guy on more than the other. Loved Rudy and wish him the best until he plays Utah. Love the Ranger and looking forward to seeing how much he can grow and learn. P.s.. Rookie year Walker hands down for career Rudy hands down. Rudy's Euro step is light years ahead but hand and shooting Walker is better.

[Inigo Montoya]

Kessler is already an allstar in hilarity. This is just too funny:


https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hpT8yPoJxI8

[Sparky6string]

Might have a better shot at NBA All-Defensive team.

[zero24gravity]

Kessler gets another validation nod, being added to team USA for the FIBA World Cup this summer. Good to have him out there playing and learning over the summer. (I'm not too worried about burn out for him with this tourny.) Practicing against Jackson Jr will also be a benefit.

https://kslsports.com/502218/kessler-to-join-team-usa/
https://basketnews.com/news-190748-walker-kessler-commits-to-team-usa-for-fiba-basketball-world-cup.html

[dautjazz]

Jokic, AD, and Sabonis are the top 3 centers in the West. We don't know where Lilliard and others end up, but unless they specifically look for a center to replace an injured center, I think his chances are slim. I don't see a 4th center being picked. If healthy the following are basically locks: Lebron, Booker, Lauri, Doncic, Curry, Dame, and SGA. Depending on health: Towns, Zion, Leonard, George, Edwards Fox, and Irving will likely battle it out for the last spots.

Too much star talent out West, and that's even dismissing Gobert having a strong season now that he'll have Conley running the offense all year. Oh and forgot about JJJ as well. Wemby is another center he'll have to compete with in the West now.

He'll likely be an All-Star in the future, but it would probably take injuries to a few centers out West before he gets a chance to get picked as a reserve this season.

[mudsak]

Technically he already is since he's averaging more blocks than Gobert, huh?

Rudy's block numbers are a direct result of players deciding not to test him. They see Rudy underneath and decide to pull the ball back out or pass. Rudy can't block shots that other players won't take.

If Kessler continues to block shots like this, he may run into the same thing, but right now nobody is afraid to test him, so he's getting a lot more opportunities to block shots than Rudy is getting.

People say this a lot, and there may be some level of truth to it, but I'm not buying this. To add some context/logic to this... we're talking about how many years of Gobert being a monster in the paint? 7yrs now? 3x DPOY, probably should have been 4... but players didn't stop challenging him year after year when he was holding DPOY trophies? Now all of the sudden players don't challenge him in the paint?

I'd say it's probably a coaching scheme as much as anything, or a lack there-of. Snyder's system was very deliberate about taking away open looks at 3, and funneling the action directly either to open mid-range looks, or have a run at Rudy. This design probably helped drive Rudy's block numbers up. I just don't really buy the notion that all of the sudden 7 or 8yrs into his career no one is challenging him anymore.