Walker Kessler leads Team Utah to All-Star Skills Challenge title
It has been quite an All-Star weekend thus far for Utah Jazz rookie center Walker Kessler of Auburn.
Friday, he took part in the league’s Rising Stars Game.
Saturday, the Utah Jazz group of Kessler, Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton beat out Team Antetokounmpo and Team Rookies to win the All-Star Skills Challenge.
Per ESPN.com, “The competition involved three rounds: relay, passing and shooting. The relay round included an obstacle course with moving LED screens lit up by neon lights. The passing required players move from spot to spot throwing feeds into moving targets. The shooting round, which was last, made the players rebound for one another and pass to a teammate spotting up around the court for a 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-point shots.”
Kessler had a big night.
“Kessler, known more for defensive prowess than his offensive skills, actually led Team Jazz with 40 points in the passing challenge and knocked down the winning score to end the shooting challenge with plenty of time left on the clock,” Wrote ESPN.
Kessler, a first-round pick in last year’s draft, is having a rookie season to remember.
Entering all-star weekend, he’s averaging 8.2 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks a game — the latter ranking him fifth among all NBA players.
Making things even better, all-star weekend is in Salt Lake City.
“To be picked and to hear your name called and then the Salt Lake City crowd, to hear them cheer — I couldn’t have asked for a better fan base,” Kessler told the Deseret News. “I’m super, super thankful this year. It’s funny how stuff works like that. … I’m getting a little choked up thinking about it.”
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In the Rising Stars event Friday, Kessler’s team lost in the first round, 40-25. Kessler finished with two points, two blocks, a rebound, an assist in the game, where the target winning score was 40 points.
Meanwhile in Salt Lake City, another former Auburn player — rookie forward Jabari Smith — also competed in the Rising Stars Game. Smith helped Team Joakim advance to the championship round when he recorded four points and one rebound in a semifinals win. His squad lost in the finals. He was scoreless in that game.
Friday, reporters asked Smith if he could currently beat basketball great Michael Jordan — who turned 60 that day.
“How old is he?” Smith said. “He’s not beating me right now, no. I’m gonna beat him … Happy birthday, MJ. I’m beating you in one-on-one right now. For sure. A thousand percent.”
