Utah Jazz middle Walker Kessler (24) blocks a shot try by Phoenix Suns ahead Josh Okogie (2) throughout an NBA sport towards the Phoenix Suns at Vivint Area in Salt Lake Metropolis on March 27, 2023. Ryan Solar, Deseret Information
Utah Jazz middle Walker Kessler was one of many high three vote-getters for the 2022-23 Rookie of the 12 months award, becoming a member of Orlando Magic ahead Paolo Banchero and Oklahoma Metropolis guard Jalen Williams.
Kessler obtained two first place votes, 17 second-place votes and 53 third-pace votes. Banchero, the Rookie of the 12 months winner, obtained 98 out of 100 first-place votes.
Kessler, who got here to Utah within the Rudy Gobert commerce, completed his rookie season with a stat line of 9.2 factors, 8.4 rebounds and a couple of.3 blocks per sport.
He had the fourth-most blocks per sport this season and was No. 8 in offensive rebounds per sport.
The winner of the February Rookie of the Month award, Kessler offered the Jazz with a defensive anchor after the Gobert commerce.
Kessler was the primary Jazz rookie to complete within the high three in Rookie of the 12 months voting since Donovan Mitchell, who famously misplaced the 2017-18 award to Ben Simmons. Darrell Griffith (1980-81 season) is the one Jazzman to win Rookie of the 12 months
After being drafted No. 1 total in 2022, Banchero lived as much as the hype in his first season, scoring 20 factors per sport whereas grabbing 6.9 rebounds and meting out 3.7 assists.