Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — Walker Kessler grabbed the ball and slammed it repeatedly against the hardwood.
It wasn't out of frustration. If anything, it was out of joy.
Kessler had just won a rebound battle, and in the process drew Memphis big man Zach Edey's sixth foul. So he took a quick second to celebrate.
"This year, a big focus for me is to try to enjoy it as much as I can," Kessler said. "Not treat it so much like, here we go, because it's an unbelievable position. This is the game I love, and I think that this past summer, I really fell in love with it again, and so I'm just trying to have fun."
The Jazz came up just short on Wednesday in their season-opener, falling to the Grizzlies 126-124 at the Delta Center. This season, though, the team won't be judged by wins, but by its development. When it comes to Kessler, consider Wednesday night a massive success.
He scored 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting, grabbed 14 rebounds (many of which were heavily contested) and blocked five shots. He looked like a better version of the player that burst onto the scene two years ago during his rookie year; the same one that rarely emerged last season.
"He's found, or re-found, some of that childish joy that we saw from Walker very early in his time here," Jazz coach Will Hardy said. "He's a great person, and he has a great personality, but we want him to use that personality as a strength. Can you give yourself the freedom to kind of let it rip a little bit and not be quite so careful? And I thought that tonight he did that."
Kessler, who bulked up about 20 pounds this offseason, threw his new strength around, winning positioning battles and fighting for tough rebounds. He was one of four Jazz players who finished with a positive plus/minus on the night.
"That's the Walker we need — a lot of activity and playing with a lot of energy, running up and down both ways on the court, and that's what we need from him on a daily basis," Lauri Markkanen said. "So it's good to have him."
Kessler is a perfectionist at heart; but in a game that is often filled with mistakes, that can be a heavy burden. Last season, it wasn't uncommon for him after a loss to sit in front of his locker with a blank stare on his face as the disappointments washed over him.
On Wedneday, it was different. Yes, he would have preferred the Jazz had won, but he was still able to recognize his own growth.
"I'm actually working with a mental strength coach now, and it's been helping a lot," he said. "I think that for me, it's just taking a step back and realizing that you're in an unbelievable opportunity. ... Just be thankful for it, and really just focus on the positives."
Even in a loss, there was a lot of those to focus on — both for him and his team.
The Jazz came back from 17 points down to tie the game late, Taylor Hendricks had some standout defensive moments (and scored 12 points in the second half too), and Cody Williams looked comfortable on an NBA floor. Oh, and Markkanen scored 35 points on just 15 shots.
Hardy said the second half was a blueprint for how Utah wants to play offensively. The Jazz made quicker decisions with the ball, which allowed them to capitalize on the advantages that screens and actions created. The result was a 74-point half and a near comeback win.
"We got a good starting place," Kessler said. "So I was proud of the guys and how they played. I guess 81 more games, so we've got a lot of time to learn and grow."
After all, that's what the season is all about.
