“He found that childlike joy again”: Kessler is happy about the growth after the Jazz’s narrow loss to the Grizzlies

SALT LAKE CITY — Walker Kessler grabbed the ball and repeatedly hit it against the hardwood.

It wasn't out of frustration. If anything, it's out of joy.

Kessler had just won a rebound battle, negating Memphis star Zach Edey's sixth foul in the process. So he took a quick second to celebrate.

“This year my main focus is to enjoy it as much as possible,” Kessler said. “Don’t treat it so much as, ‘Let’s go, because it’s an incredible position. This is the game that I love, and I think I really fell in love with it again this past summer, and so I'm just trying to have fun.”

The Jazz came up just short in their season opener on Wednesday, falling to the Grizzlies 126-124 at the Delta Center. This season, however, the team will not be measured by victories, but rather by its development. When it comes to Kessler, consider Wednesday night a huge success.

He scored 16 points on 6 of 7 shooting, grabbed 14 rebounds (many of which were hard-fought) and blocked five shots. He looked like a better version of the player who burst onto the scene two years ago in his rookie year; the same one that rarely appeared last season.

“He has found some of the childlike joy that we saw very early in his time here at Walker,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “He is a great person and has a great personality, but we want him to use that personality as a strength. Can you give yourself the freedom to let it rip a bit and not be so careful? And I thought he did that tonight.

Kessler, who gained about 20 pounds this offseason, put his new strength to use, winning position battles and fighting for tough rebounds. He was one of four Jazz players to finish the night with a positive plus/minus.

“That's the walker we need – a lot of activity and playing with a lot of energy, running in both directions on the court and that's what we need from him every day,” said Lauri Markkanen. “So it’s good to have him.”

Kessler is a perfectionist at heart; But in a game that's often riddled with bugs, that can be a heavy burden. Last season, it wasn't unusual for him to sit in front of his locker after a loss with a blank stare and let the disappointment wash over him.

On Wednesday it was different. Yes, he would have preferred the Jazz to win, but he could still see his own growth.

“I’m actually working with a mental coach now and it’s helped me a lot,” he said. “I think for me it's just taking a step back and realizing you have an incredible opportunity. … Just be grateful for it and really just focus on the positive.”

Even in defeat, there were many things to focus on – both for himself and for his team.

The Jazz came back from a 17-point deficit to tie the game late, Taylor Hendricks had some standout defensive moments (also scoring 12 points in the second half) and Cody Williams looked comfortable on the NBA floor. Oh, and Markkanen scored 35 points on just 15 shots.

Hardy said the second half was a blueprint for how Utah wanted to play offensively. The Jazz made quicker decisions with the ball, allowing them to capitalize on the advantages created by screens and actions. The result was a 74-point half and a near comeback victory.

“We got a good starting position,” said Kessler. “So I was proud of the boys and how they played. I guess there are still 81 games left, so we have a lot of time to learn and grow.”

Because that's exactly what this season is all about.