Robert Horry has reluctantly thrown his support behind new Lakers center Walker Kessler, an Auburn alum who has quickly become one of the most important pieces of Los Angeles’ revamped roster. The seven-time NBA champion joked that his loyalty to the Lakers has forced him to overlook one of college sports’ biggest rivalries.
Robert Horry spent four years representing Alabama, so there are certain lines he would probably prefer not to cross. Rooting for an Auburn player is one of them, but the Los Angeles Lakers have now left him with little choice.
Horry Has to Put the Rivalry Aside
Horry played at Alabama from 1988 to 1992 before beginning his 16-year NBA career. Decades later, his allegiance to the Crimson Tide remains strong enough that Kessler’s college background presented an immediate problem.
During an appearance on ESPN’s Mason & Ireland Show, he opened up about his dilemma.
“Oh man, it hurts my heart to have to root for an Auburn guy. You know, it’s just rooting for the Lakers… The dang Lakers got me rooting for an Auburn guy.”
https://youtu.be/oDud63BZYNw?si=AZPI80im7uHthMV_
The Alabama-Auburn rivalry is about more than just basketball. The two schools have competed for generations for bragging rights in the state. Kessler moved to Auburn after starting at North Carolina and became one of the top defensive players in the country during his only season with the Tigers.
Kessler Is Making It Easier for Horry
Luckily for Horry, there’s a lot to like about Kessler once he gets past the Auburn connection. The former Lakers forward thinks the 7-footer has skills Los Angeles has missed since Anthony Davis was traded.
“I think when you watch what Walker Kessler brings to the game, he’s so incredibly skilled. And we haven’t had a big since AD that can block shots like that, pop out for threes.”
Kessler’s rim protection is especially important for a Lakers team built around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves in the backcourt. After having trouble finding a long-term center since Davis left, Los Angeles is hoping Kessler can finally give them the defense and size they need.
There is still some uncertainty about what the Lakers will get from him right away. Kessler played only five games last season before having surgery on a torn labrum in his left shoulder. So he will start the new season after a long break.
Kessler Could Determine Lakers’ Ceiling
That long break is why Horry thinks Kessler could be the Lakers’ biggest X-factor. Doncic and Reaves are proven scorers, but whether Kessler can stay healthy and play well again might decide if Los Angeles has the balance to compete.
“So, I just hope he stays healthy. That’s the one thing about our Laker team,” Horry said. “How much rust has he developed, right? You know, will he be able to knock that rust off and come back and be the center that everybody’s expecting him to be?”
Horry went even further, saying Kessler is more important than the Lakers’ two main backcourt stars. For an Auburn hater, that’s about as strong an endorsement as Kessler could get.
“It’s going to be really interesting to see what he can do because he is the key,” Horry said. “Not Luka, not AR, he is.”
Horry might never feel comfortable cheering for an Auburn Tiger. But his loyalty to the Lakers seems to have won this time. If Kessler turns into the inside anchor Horry thinks he can be, supporting a former rival could get a bit easier.
