Walker Kessler will start his second NBA season on Wednesday night. But on Monday, the Utah Jazz put plans in place for the former Auburn standout’s third season.

Utah announced it had exercised its option on Kessler’s contract for the 2024-25 NBA season.

First-round draft picks sign four rookie-scale contracts, but only the first two are guaranteed. On Monday, the Jazz guaranteed the third season for Kessler. The NBA deadline for teams to exercise third-year options is Oct. 31.

In the 2024-25 campaign, Kessler will be paid $2,965,920. He’s set to make $2,831,160 this season.

As a rookie, Kessler averaged 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks while playing in 74 games, with 40 starts. Kessler started the final 34 games that he played and averaged 11.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.9 blocks in that span.

During the 2022-23 campaign, Kessler led the NBA’s rookies with 20 games of at least 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Kessler was a member of the NBA All-Rookie team and finished third in the voting for the KIA NBA Rookie of the Year Award for the 2022-23 season.

During the summer, Kessler played for the U.S. team in the FIBA World Cup.

Kessler and the Jazz will tip off the 2023-24 season against the Sacramento Kings at 8 p.m. CDT Wednesday at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.