The Los Angeles Lakers are fully into their Luka Doncic era, and newly acquired center Walter Kessler and coach JJ Redick agree on what should define the season.

Kessler is one of the biggest offseason additions, as his name often surfaced in trade chatter. Now that the former Utah Jazz center is on the Lakers, JJ Redick has a specific goal for Kessler's role on the team.

“The word I've used with him, the challenge, is just being relentless,” Redick told ESPN. “Just in terms of the motor on both ends. Running the floor, diving, screening, crashing the glass.”

In a quote obtained by ESPN, Kessler appears to hear his new coach loud and clear.

“JJ and I talked, and that's kind of what we came up with this year: ‘relentless,'” Kessler said. “And for me, that means just crashing every time, trying to be a presence in the paint, inside, outside, play hard, don't take plays off, on the offensive end and defensive end. So that's going to be my goal for this year.”

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Kessler has emerged as one of the league's top centers since being drafted to the league in 2022. Kessler is an adept defender and lob threat that looks to thrive with Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves in the backcourt. However, he was hit with a left shoulder labral tear that ultimately ended his season in the 2025 or 2026 campaign after playing five games. In those five games, he showed flashes of brilliance.

He averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.4 steals, and 3 assists while shooting 70% from the field. Now he looks to stay healthy and bring the same level of prowess to a Lakers team looking to reestablish itself behind new superstar Luka Doncic.