LAS VEGAS -- Los Angeles Lakers center Walker Kessler made a strong first impression in his preseason debut Tuesday.
The big man had 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting, nine rebounds, one block and one steal in L.A.'s 101-89 loss to the Golden State Warriors, playing only in the first half.
"I mean, it was a lot of fun being out there again," Kessler said. "It's been so long. Before the game I was actually pretty nervous, to be honest. But getting out there and just playing with the guys, it was a blast."
It had been 347 days since Kessler last appeared in an NBA game on Oct. 31 of last season for the Utah Jazz before undergoing season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder in November.
After an offseason sign-and-trade to L.A., when the Lakers committed two future unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps on top of a four-year, $130 million contract to the 25-year-old, he had to wait a little longer.