When we think of the Texas Legends, inarguably, we think, Kessler Edwards. And if you don't, now you will. From his hometown in Glendale, California, to college in Malibu, to his rookie season with Brooklyn, then off to Sacramento and now Dallas, Kessler has steadily climbed the ranks, revealing himself as one of the most versatile and promising young stars in the game.

One of the things to admire about Edwards is the diverse cultural influences he embodies, a reflection of his four years in the NBA and the different places he’s called home. On the Texas Legends Podcast Episode 2, Kessler mentioned that his biggest influences have been his immediate family, veterans such as Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant & notable stars like Steve Nash. What was once a childhood dream became rapidly tangible for him. Being able to sit one on one with influences such as Kyrie to learn the dynamics of the game and finding his strengths to leverage, will always stick with Kessler. We can see the result of his pursuit to grow as an individual as he came off the preseason with an ankle injury and facilitated the Texas Legends to a victory in last nights game against the Osceola Magic. Not to mention, he was just getting off the bus from traveling with the Dallas Mavericks this past week. During the post game, Unbound had the opportunity to chat with Kessler to see how he keeps his mind and body rested and focused from travelling back to back games. “Ah nah that's tough, I'm still a little tired honestly.” We can imagine. But why is that “the name of the game?” Because it shouldn't be.

Then I began to wonder, how can we all support NBA players more during the season, so they have the bandwidth to rest and recover properly?

We can hold ourselves accountable as sports spectators by not expecting players to push through fatigue or injuries to perpetuate the idea that playing through the pain is a good thing, because it's not. It's not fair for any player to be idolized as “the tough guy” because at the end of the day they are humans just like us. Thankfully though, someone like Kessler is surrounded by amazing friends, family and teammates who continuously care and remind him to find his rhythm.

Being a two way player for any time can be troublesome to find a balance. How does Kessler stay so positive though without any rest? Evidently, it's a choice. Seeing the joy on his face signing so many autographs for fans and the Legends family despite his exhaustion is truly remarkable. It's safe to say Kessler is someone who we can respect and be a reflection of sacrifice and resilience as a young player in the NBA. We are looking forward to sharing Kesslers journey as an NBA player and witnessing his growth up close and personal.

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