Shaquille O’Neal gives ex-Auburn star Walker Kessler elite praise during Inside the NBA
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Shaquille O’Neal is a proud legend and a proud former big man, and he takes the craft of being a talented big man very seriously.
So, when the former LSU legend and NBA legend, too, comes out with a bold statement such as the one he bestowed on former Auburn star big man Walker Kessler late Wednesday night, well, it’s worth a big headline. But O’Neal was ready and willing to praise Kessler after his sensation debut with the Los Angeles Lakers in the team’s season-opening 127-105 home victory over the Golden State Warriors.
Kessler, who played 1 season at North Carolina before moving on to Auburn in 2021-22, spent his first 4 years with the Utah Jazz before signing a huge contract in the offseason to be the new starting center for the Lakers. It was a sign-and-trade deal with Utah, and it put Kessler in position to be the next great big man for a Lakers franchise that’s had a ton of them, including O’Neal himself.
And Kessler was up to the task and then some on Wednesday night in front of his new home fans against the Warriors. In 30 minutes, all the former first-team All-SEC player at Auburn did was go a perfect 12 of 12 from the field, add a few free throws for a 26-point Lakers debut while pulling down 9 rebounds.
In true O’Neal fashion, he included 10 dunks among his 12 field goals made, which were the most dunks by a Lakers player since O’Neal accomplished the feat in 2003.
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The performance was on national TV, too, on ESPN, where O’Neal does his work now on Inside the NBA. After it was over, during the popular postgame show, Kessler joined the Inside the NBA crew and O’Neal was ready to shower Kessler with some really high praise.
“For so long, Lakers big men have been historical and dominant. Walker Kessler is the best big man in the NBA. You heard it here. And I’m not playing,” O’Neal told his co-hosts.
Kessler was blown away by O’Neal’s praise for him when he joined the guys to talk about his performance.
Kessler will try to elevate the Lakers into contention for the NBA title next spring. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about the best odds to be the 2026-27 NBA champion when the trophy is handed out in June:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
