Luke Kennard arrived in Southern California on Friday following his trade to the Los Angeles Lakers, signaling a new chapter in his NBA career. Lakers coach JJ Redick immediately stressed that one of the main priorities will be encouraging Kennard to take more shots, enhancing the team’s offensive firepower.
Known as one of the league’s most accurate 3-point shooters, Kennard boasts a career 3-point shooting percentage of 44.2%, which ranks as the second highest in NBA history among qualified players. Despite this, his reputation also includes a tendency to take fewer shots than expected, sometimes prioritizing shot quality over volume.
Kennard’s Shooting Profile and Team Expectations
While Kennard’s accuracy is elite, data show he has often been reluctant to shoot frequently. Entering Saturday’s game, among 68 players with at least 38% shooting from beyond the arc and a minimum of two attempts per game in 30 or more matches, Kennard was ranked 54th in 3-point attempts, averaging just 3.2 per game.
Understanding this, JJ Redick—himself a former sharpshooter and now the Lakers’ coach—is enthusiastic about tapping into Kennard’s shooting potential.
“I’ve known him for about 12 years now and think he’s one of the best shooters in the NBA. I’m going to highly encourage him to shoot more and not turn down shots,”
Redick said.
Shared Background and Playing Style Insights
Luke Kennard’s journey to the Lakers connects closely to Redick’s past, as both played college basketball at Duke University. Kennard was the 12th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft and has established himself as a reliable offensive option, especially in off-ball screening situations.
Redick highlighted Kennard’s underrated skills beyond shooting:
“One of the underrated parts of his game is his ability to move and create second actions and move the basketball. And you’ve seen that now at a number of his stops where you can initiate the offense through off-ball movement, and he will just make the right play and sort of get the offense going. He’ll be a corner threat, an off-ball threat, and we’re excited to have him.”
Reactions from Teammates and the Lakers Community
Several Lakers players welcomed Kennard warmly. Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia, who shared playing time with Kennard at the Memphis Grizzlies from 2023 to 2025, expressed their enthusiasm about reuniting.
Smart remarked,
“It was a pleasure to play with Luke in Memphis. One of the better shooters in this league. And he comes to work every day, and I’m excited to see him out here with us again, me and Jake, and kind of keep going what we had in Memphis.”
Other Lakers players who did not previously share the court with Kennard also showed optimism. Austin Reaves commented,
“Obviously, as everybody knows, he’s one of the best 3-point shooters in the league. If he has any time and space, playing against him, if you gave him time and space, you considered it a bucket. Just being able to space the floor, a guy that knows how to play basketball, stands for the right things. It’ll be fun. Can’t wait to get to work with him.”
The Trade and Losing Gabe Vincent
While the Lakers expressed excitement about the acquisition of Kennard, the trade involved parting ways with guard Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round draft pick, sending them to the Atlanta Hawks. Gabe Vincent was well-regarded within the Lakers organization for his professionalism and leadership.
JJ Redick shared his sentiments about Vincent,
“His teammates loved him. His coaches loved him. From a professionalism standpoint, just embodied everything that is good about this game. And I do think the way he finished last season and the way he started preseason, we all felt like that he was going to really have a breakout year for us here. Unfortunately just had a bunch of injuries.”
Redick added,
“He’s a good player and an even better person. I’ve told Gabe this many times, we’re all grateful that we got to work with him and be around him. We’re very appreciative of him.”
How Kennard’s Arrival Could Affect Lakers’ Dynamics
Luke Kennard’s exceptional shooting ability is expected to open up the floor for the Lakers’ offense, providing better spacing that can benefit stars on the roster, including those who thrive in driving lanes or mid-range opportunities. His capability to move without the ball and initiate plays off screens gives the coaching staff more versatile options.
Given JJ Redick’s long experience both as a player and now as a coach, his intent to encourage Kennard to be more aggressive with shooting aligns with the Lakers’ needs for more consistent perimeter scoring. Kennard’s arrival comes at a crucial moment this NBA season as the Lakers seek to enhance their offensive versatility and efficiency.
Next Steps and Potential Impact on the Lakers’ Season
With Luke Kennard now part of the roster, the Lakers will look to integrate his shooting skills into their game plan quickly. His known ability to catch and shoot with high efficiency could help the team in tight games, especially against tough opponents like the Golden State Warriors, whom they faced soon after the trade.
Coach JJ Redick’s push for Kennard to increase his shot attempts could change the narrative about Kennard’s offensive approach and elevate the Lakers’ collective shooting threat. This strategy could prove vital in the Lakers’ push deeper into the season, influencing the team’s competitiveness in the Western Conference.
With the trade now official, JJ Redick was able to address the addition of Luke Kennard and departure of Gabe Vincent.
On Luke: "Excited about Luke. Known him for about 12 years now. I think he's one of the best shooters in the NBA. I'm gonna highly encourage him to shoot more… pic.twitter.com/mN85vnhfHs
— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) February 6, 2026
