The Wait Ends: Walker Kessler Takes the Floor for the Lakers…

By the Lakers Nightly Desk · Monday, October 5

The regular season is still sixteen days away, but on the road in Sacramento, the Lakers finally stop talking about camp and start playing. Walker Kessler, who appeared in just five games a year ago, takes the floor as the centerpiece of a frontcourt his own teammate is already crediting for making the perimeter braver.

Walker Kessler of the Lakers — Walker Kessler. Photo: Gamecock Central, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Opening Night, Sort Of

The Lakers play their first game of any kind tonight, a preseason opener at Sacramento on NBA TV, with the regular-season opener against the Warriors not until October 21. It is the first of back-to-back road nights: Los Angeles plays at the Warriors the very next evening before coming home to face the Kings again on October 8. Sacramento enters at 0-0 too, three days from its next outing, a year removed from a 22-60 finish under Doug Christie.

Kessler Changes the Math

Lakers Nation reported this week that Jake LaRavia believes Kessler's presence in the lineup lets the Lakers' perimeter defenders play more aggressively, trusting the rim is covered behind them. It is a vote of confidence in a center who appeared in just five games last season, posting 14.4 points and 10.8 rebounds in 30.8 minutes a night. Tonight is the first chance to see whether that frontcourt effect holds up in a real game, however briefly it counts.

Young Legs, Expected Mistakes

Lakers Nation reported that Redick expects mistakes from rookie Cameron Carr and second-year forward Adou Thiero, pairing the warning with a promise both will still play tonight. The outlet also reported that Austin Reaves has spent camp discussing changes to an offense now built around Luka Doncic, and that Matisse Thybulle says guarding Doncic and Reaves in practice is already making him better. The preseason opener starts answering how fast this many new pieces fit before the Warriors return for the regular-season opener on October 21.

When do the Lakers play their first game of the 2026-27 season?

Their preseason opener is tonight, October 5, on the road against the Kings on NBA TV; the regular season opens October 21 against the Warriors.

Is Walker Kessler healthy and playing for the Lakers?

He appeared in just five games last season; Lakers Nation reported this week that teammate Jake LaRavia says Kessler's presence already makes the Lakers' perimeter defense more aggressive.

By the Lakers Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.