Walker Kessler jams finger in practice, Lakers call him day-to-day
Walker Kessler jammed his finger on the backboard during a Lakers practice session, head coach JJ Redick said, and the team's new center is now considered day-to-day.
Redick disclosed the injury, with the update reported by Khobi Price on X. The finger jam is not considered serious, per the source.
The exact severity of the injury beyond that "not serious" designation has not been confirmed. Kessler will miss Monday's preseason game against the Sacramento Kings as a result, with his status for Tuesday's contest against the Golden State Warriors still unclear.
WHAT HAPPENED
The jam happened on the backboard during a Lakers practice session, as disclosed by head coach JJ Redick.
The exact moment or play during practice when the jam occurred is not in the source. Redick's update, reported by Khobi Price on X, did not specify the sequence leading to the injury.
The immediate consequence is concrete: Kessler will miss Monday's preseason game against the Sacramento Kings. That absence stems directly from the finger jam, which the coach labeled as day-to-day.
The team has not confirmed any further details about how the play unfolded. What is known is that Kessler's practice session ended with the injury, and the Lakers will proceed without their new center for the Monday matchup.
THE NUMBERS
The number itself is not confirmed. Kessler is listed as day-to-day, which means no specific timeline for his return has been given.
What is confirmed is one missed game: Monday's preseason matchup against the Sacramento Kings. That absence is direct and certain, per the source.
Beyond Monday, nothing is locked in. Tuesday's preseason game against the Golden State Warriors is in question, according to www.fantasypros.com.
The injury is not considered serious, but that label does not translate into a return date. The team has not confirmed how many games Kessler will miss beyond Monday.
For now, the Lakers plan for one game without their new center and wait on a decision for the next.
THE REACTION
JJ Redick delivered the update himself, telling reporters that Kessler jammed his finger on the backboard during a practice session. The Lakers head coach labeled his new center day-to-day, per Khobi Price on X.
No direct quote from Redick is provided in the source; only his statements are paraphrased. That leaves some room for interpretation, but the coach's assessment was clear enough: Kessler is not dealing with a long-term issue.
Redick's phrasing matters here. Calling a player day-to-day after a finger jam suggests the team expects a short absence, though the coach did not offer a specific timeline. The injury is not considered serious, per the source, yet that label does not guarantee a swift return.
The reaction from the Lakers' sideline is measured. There is no panic in Redick's update, no indication of structural damage or a setback. Just a jammed finger, a missed preseason game, and a question mark hanging over the next one.
Kessler's status for Tuesday remains unresolved. The team has not confirmed whether he will suit up against the Golden State Warriors, and Redick did not address that game directly in the update.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
The first concrete date on the calendar is Monday, when Kessler will sit out the preseason game against the Sacramento Kings. That absence is confirmed by the team's update.
Tuesday is the open question. Whether Kessler plays against the Golden State Warriors has not been confirmed, and the team has not offered a decision either way.
The injury is not considered serious, per the source, but that label does not lock in a return date. A jammed finger can linger, and the Lakers have no reason to rush a big man who just arrived in camp.
What fans can watch for is the next practice report. If Kessler is back on the floor in the coming days, the Tuesday lineup becomes clearer. If he is still limited, the Warriors game could go the same way as Monday's.
Redick gave no timeline beyond day-to-day. That leaves the door open for a quick return, but it also leaves the door open for another scratch.
The next real update will come when the Lakers release their injury report ahead of Tuesday's contest. Until then, Kessler's status is a wait-and-see situation, with Monday off the board and Tuesday still in the air.
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