Apparently, admission to Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Man Alliance requires a little more than being tall enough to change a ceiling light without assistance.
A spectacular Lakers debut, however, seems to get your application moved straight to the top.
Walker Kessler earned an enthusiastic welcome from Shaq after helping Los Angeles open its season with a 127–105 victory over Golden State on October 21. The new Lakers center finished with 26 points and nine rebounds while making all 12 of his field-goal attempts.
That’s an efficient first impression. Most people starting a new job are happy to locate the coffee machine.
Kessler’s performance caught the attention of someone who knows a few things about working around the basket in purple and gold. During the postgame conversation on Inside the NBA, Shaq made his approval wonderfully clear.
“I’m happy for you, I’m proud of you. Welcome to the big man alliance.”
Coming from O’Neal, that’s a pretty memorable welcome message. We assume the membership card is enormous.
Shaq also declared Kessler the best big man in the NBA, a statement with considerably more enthusiasm than your standard opening-night compliment. Whether everyone agrees with that ranking is a discussion for another day. The warmth behind the praise was the part worth enjoying.
There’s something especially fun about seeing Shaq get excited over a center doing the kind of work he appreciates: finishing near the rim and making life difficult for the opposition.
Kessler supplied plenty of material. Ten of his baskets were dunks, according to reporting on the game. For fans who enjoy their basketball served above the rim, that’s a generous opening-night portion.
For Shaq, it offered a chance to celebrate a younger player carrying on a familiar Lakers tradition.
The franchise has given its fans plenty of reasons to appreciate big men over the years. Watching a new center have a standout night naturally invites a little excitement, especially when one of the most recognizable players in that history is watching, too.
And O’Neal didn’t seem interested in rationing his encouragement.
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That’s what gives this moment its appeal beyond the numbers. A strong performance is satisfying on its own. Hearing a basketball legend tell you he’s proud of you adds something a box score can’t quite capture.
It’s the sort of exchange that makes a postgame interview worth sticking around for, even when you’ve already started looking for the remote.
Of course, an NBA season contains considerably more than one game. Kessler will have plenty of opportunities to build on his debut, and the Lakers will have plenty to work on along the way.
But enjoying a great first night doesn’t require predicting every night after it. Sometimes a player has a terrific game, a legend offers some encouragement, and fans get to have a little fun with both.
We’re happy to take that deal.
As for the Big Man Alliance, Shaq has once again made the name sound like an organization that ought to have meetings, jackets, and unusually sturdy furniture.
The important business appears straightforward: recognize a big performance when you see one.
Kessler delivered the introduction. Shaq supplied the welcome. And Lakers fans got an opening-night moment with enough personality to match the basketball.