​Walker Kessler, the Los Angeles Lakers’ marquee offseason acquisition, expressed his excitement Monday about the upcoming season after officially joining the team on a four-year, $130 million contract via a sign-and-trade with the Utah Jazz.The 7-foot-2 center also provided an update on the injury that cost him all but five games in the 2025-26 NBA campaign.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementKessler’s final outing with the Jazz ultimately came on Halloween night against the Phoenix Suns. He finished with 4 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in 29 minutes. Roughly a week later, Utah announced that he would undergo season-ending left shoulder surgery.Speaking with reporters Monday, the 24-year-old addressed the setback that had some in Laker Nation concerned.”It’s been cleared. It feels strong. It feels mobile,” Kessler said. “I’m just excited to play again. Sitting out a whole year definitely puts a lot of things in perspective. The heart grows fond in absence. Falling in love with this game again, I just want to go play to win.”Kessler, who shared that he has dealt with the shoulder injury since college, is eager to team up with Lakers superstar Luka Dončić. He will take over the starting center role previously held by Deandre Ayton, who was traded to the Washington Wizards last week.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLakers general manager Rob Pelinka has reportedly long coveted Kessler but couldn’t pry him out of Salt Lake City. This offseason, the stars finally aligned as LA had salary cap flexibility once LeBron James decided to end his eight-year stint with the franchise, paving the way for a sign-and-trade.Dončić wanted Pelinka to acquire an “A-list center,” which only made the Kessler deal even more urgent. In the big man’s three previous healthy seasons, he averaged 9.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game. He should provide a sorely needed boost to the Lakers’ much-maligned defense while giving the Slovenian playmaker a long-awaited lob threat.SEE ALSO: ‘Teams Are Not Calling’ — 15-Year NBA Veteran Shares Conspiracy Theory About LeBron James’ Free AgencyKessler told reporters that “it’s going to be a lot of fun” suiting up alongside Dončić. He added that sharing the floor with the perennial MVP contender would be his first time playing “with a point guard of that kind of size and stature.”With his shoulder fully healed, Kessler can’t wait to show LA, his new teammates, and Laker Nation what he is capable of.