Ryan Kelly: An Active Offseason for a Breakout Year

When Ryan Kelly was drafted in 2013, I wasn’t impressed.  I wanted the Lakers to have more defensive speed and get out in transition.  Guys like B.J. Young and C.J. Leslie were undrafted.  While they are tremendous athletes, the Lakers didn’t acquire either player.

They stuck with Ryan Kelly.

Ryan had a tremendous rookie season.  Yes, he was a second-round draft pick, but he played like a first-rounder.  During his rookie year, he played 22.2 minutes and averaged 8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.  His basketball IQ showed maturity and poise on the floor, and he became an effective offensive player for an injury-plagued Laker roster.

But, Ryan Kelly isn’t a one-hit wonder.  He shot 42.3% from the field, which is expected, considering he takes a large volume of shots from the perimeter.  He’s not a slasher. He’s not a post player.  Essentially, he’s a tall shooting guard. He can attack in a straight line.  He protects the basketball and keeps the ball moving on offense.  He creates space for other players in the paint with his perimeter shooting.

Last year, teams were catching on to Ryan Kelly’s three-point shooting.  He took over two attempts per game hitting 33.8%.  He made a mid-season adjustment, and added an pump-fake.  He showed better ability to finish around the hoop.

While it seems that Ryan Kelly is a one-dimensional offensive player, he spent a lot of time in the off-season working on his game.

Let’s look at a timeline of his off-season training.