Luke Kennard shared a heartfelt comment about teaming up with LeBron James ahead of his first game with the Los Angeles Lakers against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night. The Lakers acquired Kennard from the Atlanta Hawks just before the trade deadline to boost their three-point shooting, trading Gabe Vincent and a second-round pick in the deal.
Speaking to reporters before the game, Kennard revealed his excitement about finally playing alongside James in the NBA, recalling how he once played for an AAU team that LeBron personally sponsored. “Definitely a full-circle moment,” Kennard said, highlighting the significance of this career milestone.
Luke Kennard on going from playing on the AAU team that LeBron James sponsored to playing with LeBron as his teammate in the NBA: “Definitely a full-circle moment” ?Luke Kennard
How Kennard and the Lakers Performed Against the Warriors
In his Lakers debut, Luke Kennard contributed effectively as Los Angeles secured a 105-99 win over Golden State at home. The first half was tightly contested, with the Warriors holding a slim one-point lead at halftime, 42-41. However, the Lakers dominated the second half, outscoring Golden State 64-57 to take control of the game.
Kennard impressed by scoring 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including 2-of-4 from three-point range. He also added two rebounds, two assists, and one steal. LeBron James led the team with 20 points and 10 assists, while Rui Hachimura followed with 18 points. Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart contributed 16 points (with eight assists) and 15 points (with four assists), respectively. Jarred Vanderbilt offered a strong presence with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Lakers’ Season Status and Upcoming Challenges
With this win, the Lakers improved to a 32-19 record, holding fifth place in the Western Conference. They are positioned above the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns but trail the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets in the standings. Riding a three-game winning streak, Los Angeles looks to maintain momentum as they prepare for their next home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 9 at 10 p.m. ET.
Luke Kennard on going from playing on the AAU team that LeBron James sponsored to playing with LeBron as his teammate in the NBA: “Definitely a full-circle moment” pic.twitter.com/xilG0aXZlS
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 8, 2026
