Walker Kessler

Utah Jazz, Center
Age: 24y-7m-20d (Jul 26, 2001)
Exp: 3 Years
Country: US
College: Auburn
Drafted: Round 1 (#22 overall), 2022
Agent(s): Aaron Mintz, Dave Spahn
2025-26 Cap Hit

$4,878,938

2025-26 Cash

$4,878,938

Career Earnings

$13,372,418

2022-2025 Rookie (CURRENT)

Walker Kessler signed a 4 year, $13,372,418 contract with the Utah Jazz, including $5,527,560 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $3,343,105. In 2025-26, Kessler will earn a base salary of $4,878,938, while carrying a cap hit of $4,878,938.
Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $13,372,418
Average Salary:
$3,343,105
GTD at Sign:
$5,527,560
Total GTD:
$5,527,560
Signed Using:
rookie-scale-exception
Free Agent:
2026 / RFA
Year Age Status Cap HitAnnual Cap % League Cap Apron Salary Luxury Tax Tax % League Tax Cash Annual Cash Guaranteed Cash Cumulative
2022-23 21 $2,696,400 2.18% $2,696,400 $2,696,400 1.79% $2,696,400 $2,696,400 $2,696,400
2023-24 22 $2,831,160 2.08% $2,831,160 $2,831,160 1.71% $2,831,160 $2,831,160 $5,527,560
2024-25 23
Club
$2,965,920 2.11% $2,965,920 $2,965,920 1.74% $2,965,920 $2,965,920 $8,493,480
2025-26 24
Club
$4,878,938 3.15% $4,878,938 $4,878,938 2.60% $4,878,938 - $13,372,418
2026-27 25
RFA
Year Age Status Base Salary Incentives Likely Incentives Unlikely Cap Hit Cap % League Luxury Tax
2022-23 21 $2,696,400 - - $2,696,400 2.18% $2,696,400
2023-24 22 $2,831,160 - - $2,831,160 2.08% $2,831,160
2024-25 23
Club
$2,965,920 - - $2,965,920 2.11% $2,965,920
2025-26 24
Club
$4,878,938 - - $4,878,938 3.15% $4,878,938
2026-27 25
RFA
Year Age Status Base Salary Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining AYC Cumulative AYC Remaining
2022-23 21 $2,696,400 $2,696,400 $2,696,400 $13,372,418 $2,696,400 $3,343,105
2023-24 22 $2,831,160 $2,831,160 $5,527,560 $10,676,018 $2,763,780 $3,558,673
2024-25 23
Club
$2,965,920 $2,965,920 $8,493,480 $7,844,858 $2,831,160 $3,922,429
2025-26 24
Club
$4,878,938 $4,878,938 $13,372,418 $4,878,938 $3,343,105 $4,878,938
Contract Notes
  • 2024-25: Club Option (deadline 10/31/23, exercised 10/23/23)
  • 2025-26: Club Option (deadline 10/31/24, exercised 10/21/24)
Source: Spotrac
Seasons

3 Years

Career Earnings thru 2025

$13,372,418

Earnings w/ Different Teams

1 team

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2022 21
Active
$2,696,400
$2,696,400
2023 22
Active
$2,831,160
$5,527,560
2024 23
Active / Club Exercised
$2,965,920
$8,493,480
2025 24
Active / Club Exercised
$4,878,938
$13,372,418
Total      
$13,372,418
$13,372,418
Total
$13,372,418
* denotes prorated cash total due to lockout season

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
4 $13,372,418 - - $13,372,418
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2022
21
$2,696,400
$2,696,400
$2,696,400
2023
22
$2,831,160
$2,831,160
$5,527,560
2024
23
$2,965,920
$2,965,920
$8,493,480
2025
24
$4,878,938
$4,878,938
$13,372,418
Total
$13,372,418
$13,372,418
$13,372,418
Total
$13,372,418
$13,372,418

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
4 $13,372,418 - - $13,372,418

Injuries

Year Dates Games Missed Reason
2025-26 UTA Nov 02, 2025 - Mar 13, 2026 61 Shoulder
2024-25 UTA Apr 04, 2025 - Apr 13, 2025 5 Head
2024-25 UTA Mar 28, 2025 - Mar 28, 2025 1 Illness
2024-25 UTA Mar 09, 2025 - Mar 09, 2025 1 Rest
2024-25 UTA Mar 05, 2025 - Mar 05, 2025 1 Rest
2024-25 UTA Mar 02, 2025 - Mar 02, 2025 1 Rest
2024-25 UTA Feb 24, 2025 - Feb 24, 2025 1 Illness
2024-25 UTA Feb 13, 2025 - Feb 13, 2025 1 Thumb
2024-25 UTA Feb 08, 2025 - Feb 08, 2025 1 Shoulder
2024-25 UTA Jan 27, 2025 - Jan 28, 2025 1 Shoulder
2024-25 UTA Jan 17, 2025 - Jan 17, 2025 1 Rest
2024-25 UTA Jan 12, 2025 - Jan 12, 2025 1 Rest
2024-25 UTA Nov 12, 2024 - Nov 22, 2024 6 Hip
2023-24 UTA Apr 05, 2024 - Apr 14, 2024 6 Nose
2023-24 UTA Feb 29, 2024 - Mar 08, 2024 4 Foot
2023-24 UTA Dec 11, 2023 - Dec 12, 2023 1 Foot
2023-24 UTA Nov 08, 2023 - Nov 24, 2023 7 Elbow
2022-23 UTA Apr 04, 2023 - Apr 09, 2023 4 Concussion
2022-23 UTA Mar 07, 2023 - Mar 08, 2023 1 Illness
2022-23 UTA Oct 28, 2022 - Nov 01, 2022 3 Illness
  • Nov 05, 2025 Will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 with Utah (UTA) due to season-ending shoulder injury
  • Oct 21, 2024 Utah (UTA) exercised $4.88 million option for 2025-26
  • Oct 23, 2023 Utah (UTA) exercised $2.97 million option for 2024-25
  • Jul 09, 2022 Signed a 4 year $13.37 million Rookie Scale contract with Utah (UTH)
  • Jul 06, 2022 Traded to Utah (UTA) from Minnesota (MIN) with Malik Beasley , Patrick Beverley , Jarred Vanderbilt , Leandro Bolmaro , 2023 1st round pick [top-12 protected, conveys to 2nd-round pick] , 2025 1st round pick [unprotected] , 2027 1st round pick [unprotected] , 2026 1st round pick [UTH right to swap] and 2029 1st round pick [top-5 protected] for Rudy Gobert
  • Jun 24, 2022 Traded to Minnesota (MIN) from Memphis (MEM) with 2023 2nd round pick and TyTy Washington Jr. for Jake LaRavia
  • Jun 23, 2022 Drafted by Memphis (MEM): Round 1 (#22 overall)

Fines

Date Reason Fine Amount
Feb 22, 2025 for technical foul during HOU-UTA game $2,000
Nov 02, 2024 for technical foul during UTA-DEN game $2,000
Fines: 2 $4,000
Year Team GP GS Min/Gm Pt/Gm Reb/Gm Ast/Gm Stl/Gm Blk/Gm FG% 3PT% FT%
2025 UTA 5 5 30.6 14.4 10.8 3.0 1.4 1.8 .703 .750 .700
2024 UTA 58 58 30.0 11.1 12.2 1.7 0.6 2.4 .663 .176 .520
2023 UTA 64 22 23.3 8.1 7.5 0.9 0.5 2.4 .654 .211 .602
2022 UTA 74 40 23.0 9.2 8.4 0.9 0.4 2.3 .720 .333 .516
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