Walker Kessler was back on the practice court Saturday, but the Los Angeles Lakers still have not committed to a date for his preseason debut.
Coach JJ Redick said Kessler could return to scrimmaging Sunday after taking part in Saturday’s session without playing live basketball. Asked about the center’s availability for Tuesday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors, Redick offered a cautious answer.
“We’ll see,” Redick said.
The update gives the Lakers a possible next step in Kessler’s recovery from a finger injury, with two preseason games remaining. It also leaves an important distinction: Participating in practice has not yet translated into a return to scrimmaging or clearance to face another team.
Redick also provided news on Collin Sexton, another newcomer whose preparation remains limited. Both players are working toward joining a group that has shown encouraging stretches, but has yet to get its full complement of players onto the floor together.
Walker Kessler could resume scrimmaging Sunday
Saturday’s report adds detail to the more general optimism Redick expressed before Thursday’s game against the Sacramento Kings. At that point, the coach said he expected Kessler to appear before the preseason ended.
“It’s not concerning. He’ll play in the preseason,” Redick said Thursday.
That earlier statement was not a commitment to Tuesday’s game. Saturday’s answer similarly left the matchup open, with Sunday identified as a possibility for scrimmaging rather than a guaranteed return to unrestricted work.
Kessler himself sounded encouraged during Thursday’s ESPN broadcast, although he declined to name a return date. He said he was feeling good while continuing to communicate with the coaches and training staff about the process.
“Finger’s good. Finger’s good,” Kessler said.
The injury occurred when he jammed his finger against the backboard during training camp. He has not appeared in the Lakers’ first three exhibition games, so his first minutes with this group still await him.
Taken together, the updates describe a player involved in practice whose return to live competition remains unresolved. Neither the prospect of scrimmaging Sunday nor the uncertainty about Tuesday establishes that he has suffered a setback.
Lakers have two preseason games left to evaluate their combinations
The remaining preseason schedule gives Los Angeles a Tuesday meeting with Golden State in Las Vegas, followed by Friday’s home finale against the Denver Nuggets. Those are the last exhibition opportunities for Redick to evaluate Kessler with his new teammates.
The practical value would extend beyond checking whether Kessler can complete a stint. Game possessions would let the Lakers examine his timing with their ballhandlers, their spacing around him and the defensive responsibilities of the players sharing the floor.
Those are different questions from whether an individual player feels ready. A lineup has to coordinate its actions, and preseason minutes provide a chance to identify problems before the results begin counting toward the standings.
Redick had already made his desire to evaluate a healthier group clear after Thursday’s game. In a post accompanying its interview clip, Spectrum SportsNet highlighted his hope of seeing the team closer to full strength during the remaining exhibitions.
"I like where we're at. Would love to get some news on some people and see what we look like at full strength in one of these games."
JJ Redick discusses what he likes from the team with 2 games left of the preseason. pic.twitter.com/FnkYFPX3HQ
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) October 9, 2026
Kessler’s eventual availability would also give Redick more information about where other players fit. Using a player at center because someone is unavailable does not necessarily reveal how that player will be deployed when the roster is healthier.
Rebounding gives Kessler’s return added importance
The Lakers’ most recent game supplied a clear example of why the frontcourt remains worth watching. Sacramento already collected 12 offensive rebounds on Thursday at halftime, even as Los Angeles led 57-43.
That combination shows why the scoreboard alone cannot settle the defensive evaluation. A team can build a lead while still allowing opponents too many chances to extend possessions after a missed shot.
Los Angeles ultimately won 114-110. The Lakers with 13 steals and seven blocks, while Sandro Mamukelashvili contributed 19 points, three rebounds and four assists.
Luka Doncic scored 23 points, and Austin Reaves finished with eight points, five rebounds and eight assists.
The production offered reasons for optimism, particularly about the offensive possibilities involving Mamukelashvili.
It also left a useful question for the next stage of the preseason: How can the Lakers preserve those contributions while finishing more defensive possessions with a rebound?
Kessler’s return would provide another combination to evaluate, but it would not eliminate the responsibilities of the players around him. Perimeter defenders still have to contain drives, track cutters and find opponents when a shot goes up.
Redick has also been exploring zone defense as an option for this roster. A healthier frontcourt would give him additional personnel choices as he decides when to use that coverage and how to balance it with other approaches.
Collin Sexton remains day-to-day after modified practice
Kessler was not the only player whose participation required qualification Saturday. Redick said Sexton practiced with restrictions, did not scrimmage and remained day-to-day.
In a follow-up from Saturday’s availability, Redick described Sexton’s issue as a “lower leg injury.” The coach’s description did not specify a diagnosis beyond that.
That update follows the coach’s answer after Thursday’s game, when he was asked whether there was concern about Sexton being unavailable for opening night
JJ Redick on if there’s any concern Collin Sexton won’t be available for opening night: “No.”
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) October 9, 2026
The two statements address different points in the calendar. Confidence about opening night does not establish availability for Tuesday’s exhibition, just as modified participation Saturday does not mean Sexton has been ruled out of the regular-season opener.
For now, the Lakers are still waiting to test more of their intended combinations. Kessler’s next potential step is scrimmaging Sunday; a decision on his debut against Golden State remains ahead.
