Walker Kessler was cleared from day-to-day Tuesday night, lifting the finger and arm issue that had sidelined him since Oct. 5. He is available for the Lakers' season opener against the Warriors that night.
What happened
The injury report listed Kessler as cleared at 8:42 p.m. ET on Tuesday, removing the day-to-day tag he had carried since Oct. 5 for a finger and arm issue. The report included no comment on the move and no further detail on the injury itself. He had gone from day-to-day to cleared with no expected-return date ever listed in between. The clearance landed just hours before the Lakers opened their season against the Warriors at 10 p.m. ET on NBA TV.
What it means for the Lakers
Kessler is available for the opener against Golden State, with no regular-season record yet on the books to weigh with or without him. Last season he averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 30.8 minutes over five games, production the Lakers can use against the Warriors. Had he stayed out, the minutes would have leaned more on Deandre Ayton, who posted 27.2 minutes and 12.5 points without Kessler on the floor, and Rui Hachimura, at 28.3 minutes and 11.5 points, while Luka Doncic (35.8 minutes, 33.5 points), Austin Reaves (34.5 minutes, 23.3 points) and LeBron James (33.2 minutes, 20.9 points) carried the rest of the load.
What to watch
The next injury report will show whether Kessler's status holds beyond the opener. No expected return date applies now that he is cleared, and the finger and arm issue that sidelined him from Oct. 5 carries no further detail on record. His workload in the Warriors game, and in the games that follow as the 2026-27 season begins, is the next thing to track for the Lakers' frontcourt.
Is Walker Kessler playing vs Warriors?
Yes. He was cleared from day-to-day Tuesday night, ahead of the Lakers' season opener against the Warriors at 10 p.m. ET on NBA TV.
When will Walker Kessler be back?
He is already back. The injury report cleared him Tuesday after he had been day-to-day since Oct. 5 with a finger and arm issue, and no expected return date was ever listed.