AUBURN, Ala. – The 2023-24 NBA season tipped off Tuesday night. For Auburn fans, the season officially begins Wednesday with all five former players in action for the first time.
Among those playing Wednesday night is Walker Kessler, the No. 22 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft who is coming off a season for the Utah Jazz in which he averaged 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. He finished third in the NBA Rookie of the Year voting.
"It was just about having confidence in what I do," Kessler said. "At Auburn, the three things I did the most were rebound, block shots and run. I've always been in the headspace that I want to do whatever it takes to win. That's when I'm playing my best basketball. I think when I got the opportunity, that kind of took over."
Kessler is primed for even more success in his sophomore campaign in the NBA. The 7-foot big man has played a full season at the next level, and he also gained more experience this summer playing for Team USA in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
"At the beginning of last year, it was all new. It was all foreign," Kessler said. "Being able to hit the ground running this year and understand what I'm getting into before I even go into it, it's just going to allow me to start even better than last year."
Kessler is one of five former Auburn players currently in the NBA, along with his former teammate Jabari Smith (Houston Rockets), Isaac Okoro (Cleveland Cavaliers), Chuma Okeke (Orlando Magic) and JT Thor (Charlotte Hornets). Sharife Cooper is expected to open the 2023-24 season in the G League with the Cleveland Charge.
Though Kessler only played with Smith while at Auburn, he still has a connection to all the former Tigers he runs into while playing in the NBA.
"There's definitely a connection," he said. "Every time I see Chuma or Isaac. I haven't seen Sharife a lot unless it's like Summer League. Every time I see Jabari. The Auburn connection is real. In the past five years, it feels like every year we've had a first-round pick or a draft pick. It's very cool. Even JT Thor – seeing him too.
"It's definitely real, and that connection will always be there."
Auburn will open its season in less than two weeks when the Tigers travel to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to take on No. 20 Baylor on Nov. 7. They're back at home later that week for Tipoff on the Plains and the home opener against Southeastern Louisiana on Nov. 10.
Auburn in the NBA
Walker Kessler – Utah Jazz
Chuma Okeke – Orlando Magic
Isaac Okoro – Cleveland Cavaliers
Jabari Smith – Houston Rockets
JT Thor – Charlotte Hornets