Kessler Edwards

Kessler Edwards's Biography

Kessler Donovan Edwards, born on August 9, 2000, is an American professional basketball player best known for his stints in the NBA (National Basketball Association) with the Dallas Mavericks. Born and raised in California, Edwards’ passion for basketball emerged in high school, playing for Etiwanda High. His skills continued to hone throughout his college years with the Pepperdine Waves and shined brightest as a professional player in the NBA.

Edwards cut his teeth on basketball at Etiwanda High School located in Rancho Cucamonga, California. There, he began to show promising talent, averaging 17 points, nine rebounds per game as a junior, and earning himself the honor of the First Team All-Baseline League. His prowess on court intensified in his senior year where he averaged an impressive 21.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. This achievement led to Edwards being named the Baseline League MVP. Beyond high school, Edwards also spent some time competing for Prodigy Elite on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit.

Edwards was a sought-after player, and after high school, he accepted a scholarship to play at Pepperdine University. As a freshman, he averaged 10 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, being recognized with a WCC All-Freshman Team selection. His sophomore and junior years yielded even better performance as Edwards averaged 13.8 points (along with a team-leading 7.5 rebounds) and 17.2 points (with 6.8 rebounds) per game respectively. This stellar performance earned him the selection for the Second-Team All-WCC and later the First Team All-WCC recognition.

His time at Pepperdine came with many memorable moments, including a 37 point, 11 rebounds performance in an 85-68 victory over Pacific on January 21, 2021. His contributions and skills led Pepperdine to a College Basketball Invitational title, and Edwards was named MVP for his performance. Following this, he declared for the 2021 NBA draft, leaving his college life behind and embarking on his professional career.

Edwards’ professional career started on a high note when he was selected by the Brooklyn Nets as the 44th pick in the second round of the 2021 NBA draft. However, he was still able to show his mettle by being included in the roster for the 2021 NBA Summer League. On August 16, he signed a two-way contract with the Nets, in which he would split his time playing for Brooklyn and their affiliates, Long Island Nets in the G-League.

The deal got promoted to a standard contract in the following year on April 10, 2022. Later on July 6, 2022, Edwards re-signed with the Nets to a reported two-year contract, showing great promise for his career. This tenure, however, came to an end when Edwards was traded to the Sacramento Kings on February 8, 2023, along with cash considerations for David Michineau’s draft rights.

Edwards eventually moved to the Dallas Mavericks in 2024 by signing another two-way contract on August 27. Here he carried on his professional journey with the same skill and precision he showed in his earlier basketball years.

Sports is an undeniable Edwards family trait. Edwards’ older brother, Kameron, is also a professional basketball player who played at Pepperdine before launching his own professional career. Evidently, Kessler Donovan carries the same passion and determination for the sport as his brother while carving his own unique path in basketball history. With his talent and work ethic, Edwards continues to ascend in his professional career, becoming one of the exciting names in the league today.