For the first time in years, the Los Angeles Lakers are beginning an NBA season without LeBron James.
And if anyone was wondering how the team would handle that change, Wednesday night’s game provided an interesting first answer.
The Lakers opened their season with a convincing 127–105 victory over the Golden State Warriors, giving their fans plenty to celebrate.
Leading the way was Luka Dončić, who finished with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
But he wasn’t the only player making an impression.
Walker Kessler had the perfect debut. Literally.
The Lakers’ new center scored 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds in his first official game with the team.
And here’s the detail that made his performance particularly impressive.
Kessler made all 12 of his field-goal attempts.
He didn’t miss once.
That put him in rare Lakers company, with only Wilt Chamberlain having made more shots without missing in a single game for the franchise.
Austin Reaves also contributed 23 points as Los Angeles controlled the matchup.
On the other side, Stephen Curry scored 23 points for Golden State, but the Warriors struggled to keep up.
A new era is Los Angeles.
The victory carries extra meaning because the Lakers are entering a very different chapter.
With LeBron now in Philadelphia, the spotlight is increasingly focused on Dončić as the face of the team.
And the arrival of Kessler gives Los Angeles another important piece, particularly around the basket.
Of course, one game doesn’t define an entire NBA season.
There are still months of basketball ahead, with injuries, difficult opponents and plenty of challenges waiting.
But for Lakers fans wondering whether the team could start strongly without LeBron, opening night provided an encouraging result.
A 22-point win against the Warriors?
Not a bad way to begin a new chapter.
