Walker Kessler Spills on NIL, SEC Hoops & Top Hoopers of All Time

This week on the Dawg Talk Podcast, former Mr. Georgia Basketball, Walker Kessler,  joins Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as the fellow McDonald’s All-Americans, SEC Defensive Players of the Year, and current NBA players chat! If you're a hoops fan, this is the conversation you've been waiting for!

J Mac, Kenny Gaines, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (KCP) sit down with Walker to talk about his entire journey.  From dominating Georgia high school gyms to the moment he got the call on draft night. But it’s not all stats and accolades — this episode is full of laughs, family stories, and straight-up honesty about what it really takes to make it at the next level.

Walker opens up about:

• Why he didn't follow in the family footsteps to play for Georgia, despite deep Bulldog roots
• The real story behind transferring from UNC to Auburn
• His thoughts on the NIL era, the crazy numbers young players are pulling in now, and what he would've done differently if it existed during his college days
• The unexpected twist of being drafted and traded — twice — before even suiting up
• How defense became his love language on the court (yes, he’d rather block a shot than dunk!)

Plus, the crew chops it up about the top Georgia hoopers of the last 15 years, the importance of mental toughness in the league, and how the game — and the business around it — has evolved.

This is the type of episode that shows why Dawg Talk is a must-listen: real conversations, authentic energy, and the stories that don’t make the headlines. Whether you’re an aspiring athlete, a college hoops junkie, or just here for the vibes — there’s something in this one for you.

TIME STAMPS

• 0:00 – Walker Kessler joins the Dawgs
  3:02 – Growing up in a Georgia sports dynasty
  6:48 – Why Walker didn’t go to UGA
  9:55 – From UNC to Auburn: the transfer decision
  13:21 – NIL era: Would Walker have stayed in school?
  16:05 – Bruce Pearl’s crazy energy & Auburn culture
  19:34 – Who’s really keeping Georgia talent in-state?
  23:00 – High school matchups + Georgia hoop stories
  26:40 – Official visits & what sold Walker on UNC
  30:12 – Declaring for the NBA Draft + injury setback
  33:09 – Getting traded TWICE before playing a game
  36:04 – Life in the NBA: lessons, mental growth, pressure
  39:58 – The art of defense: “I’d rather block than dunk”
  43:14 – How Kessler fits into Memphis’s defense
  46:20 – Advice for young players: effort > ego
  49:11 – Walker’s Top 5 Georgia Hoopers (last 15 years)
  52:47 – Final thoughts + major appreciation for the Dawgs
  54:31 – Like, comment, subscribe – we OUT

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Connect with Walker Kessler at: 

Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/kidkessler/?hl=en

Follow Us: Dawg Talk Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedawgtalkpod/ 

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: https://www.instagram.com/caldwellpope/ 

Jordan McGruder (J Mac): https://www.instagram.com/wordsfrommac/