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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Jazz rookie center Walker Kessler was one of the biggest surprises of the 2022-23 rookie class. On Monday, he was named as one of the best in the league.
Kessler was named to the NBA All-Rookie first team on Monday; he's the first Jazz player to earn the recognition since Donovan Mitchell was named to the first team in 2018.
The 7-foot-1 center was the No. 22 pick of the 2022 NBA draft, and learned quickly how the NBA world worked; he was traded to Minnesota on draft night and then to Utah as part of the Rudy Gobert trade.
He slotted nicely into a Gobert-esque role with the Jazz, and became an immediate defensive force who averaged 9.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. Kessler shot 72% from the floor, which is the highest by a rookie in NBA history.
The complete voting results for the 2022-23 Kia NBA All-Rookie Team: pic.twitter.com/zfSjo4c2i5
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 8, 2023
Kessler, who finished third in rookie of the year voting, received 95 first-team votes and five second-team votes from the panel of 100 media members.
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, Oklahoma City wing Jalen Williams, Indiana Pacers guard Benedict Mathurin, and Sacramento Kings wing Keegan Murray joined Kessler on the first team.
