Walker Kessler’s historic Lakers debut, earns hilarious Shaq nickname

With just under six minutes remaining on Wednesday night, Walker Kessler walked toward the Lakers bench, his jersey drenched in sweat, his left knee bloodied and bruised, his work finished. 

At that moment more than 18,000 fans inside Crypto.com Arena rose to their collective feet to give the new Lakers big man a standing ovation for his spectacular debut in the purple and gold.

Kessler turned the paint into his personal playground in the Lakers season opener, throwing down 10 dunks, scoring 26 points on a perfect 12-for-12 shooting performance in the Lakers dominant 127-105 win over the Golden State Warriors. 

Not bad for a first impression.

And somewhere, back at the “Inside the NBA” studios in Atlanta, Shaquille O’Neal was smiling.

The Lakers legend christened Kessler with a hilarious new nickname during ESPN’s postgame coverage: “Milk Chamberlain.”

Considering the company Kessler joined on Wednesday, it couldn’t have been more appropriate.

The 7-foot-2 center became just the second player in Lakers franchise history to make at least 12 field goals without missing, joining Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 34 points on 14-for-14 shooting in 1969.

His 10 dunks were the most by a Laker since O’Neal himself in 2003, according to ESPN, and reportedly established an NBA play-by-play era record.

But the most frightening development for the rest of the Western Conference wasn’t Kessler’s historic stat line. It was how ridiculously easy the Lakers’ new Big Three made everything look.

Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves spent Wednesday treating the rim like a dartboard, tossing alley-oops into Kessler’s general vicinity and watching their new center finish everything in sight.

On one particularly outrageous possession, Doncic wrapped a behind-the-back pass around Draymond Green and delivered it directly into Kessler’s chest beneath the basket. Doncic might as well have put a bow on it. 

“When I was driving he stepped up. When I was doubled he played the pocket,” said Doncic, who finished with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. “It was a very impressive game from him.”

Kessler added nine rebounds and two blocks, giving the Lakers precisely the interior presence general manager Rob Pelinka envisioned when he surrendered two unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps to acquire him.

That price looked outrageous this summer. Wednesday, it looked like a bargain.

Even Lakers coach JJ Redick acknowledged the significance of the moment.

“He understands what this is and what the pressure that comes with it is, and this is a great opening statement for him,” Redick said.

Teammate Ziaire Williams admitted he occasionally found himself watching in amazement from the corner as Doncic, Reaves and Kessler operated.

For Kessler, the explanation was refreshingly simple.

“I wish I could say it was really difficult, but their court vision is insane,” he said.

A day earlier, Kessler spoke about embracing the pressure of playing for one of basketball’s most storied franchises, but on Wednesday evening he admitted he was nervous. 

By night’s end, those nerves had disappeared beneath a thunderous standing ovation.

And now one thing is for certain, the “Snowtime Lakers” era is off to a thunderous start.

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