Luke Kennard: Duke, Sophomore, Shooting Guard, 6’5”, 180lbs
Luke Kennard made a significant leap between his freshman year and sophomore year at Duke. Many have taken note of this and Kennard is on the Wooden Award Late Season list. Kennard is also a top ten finalist for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year award.
Coming out of high school, Kennard was a five-star prospect. He has lived up to that hype at Duke, averaging 19.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists this year. This production was unexpected out of him coming into this year. With Grayson Allen supposed to continue to ride his rising star and a stellar recruiting class, Kennard was going to be a role player on a national title contender. But instead, Kennard made it known that he was going to be the best player on this title contending team.
The best part about Kennard’s game is his scoring ability. He is an extremely consistent scorer. Through 30 games this season he has scored in double digits all but once he has had 15 outings scoring 20 or more points and has dropped 30 plus in games three times this season.
Kennard does this for a variety of ways. There is a misconception out there that he is only a shooter. While he is an outstanding shooter, 45.4% from three on 5.4 attempts per game, he can score in all sorts of manners. Throughout the season, he has demonstrated how effective he is on pull-up jumpers and shooting of the dribble. His shooting form is very pure with a high release that aides the potency of his shooting, both stationary and moving.
He can also attack the basket. Throughout the season he has become better at finishing moves. He uses a quick first step to get into the lane and then has options. Developing a floater has been big for him which allows him to finish over taller defenders and shot blockers. Kennard is also good at cutting off his defender with his body once he gets past him so the defender either has to foul or let Kennard go. When in the lane, Kennard has also shown a willingness and ability to kick the ball out to the open man.
Kennard is also good at playing through contact. He can complete and ones and make his free throws. So far this season, he is averaging 4.9 trips to the line per game and connecting on 84.5% of them.
Moving without the ball is another one of his strengths. He uses his court vision and awareness to create open three-point attempts and to set his man up for a drive.
There are some things that Kennard could improve with on offense. I would like to see him in more pick and rolls and attack the switch harder, instead of settling for a jump shot. It would also do him good to try and create more for his teammates. He is the primary scoring option at Duke, but showing an enhanced ability to create for others would send him up draft boards.
Moving to the other side of the ball, Kennard is not your next defensive stopper. He is a good defender while not great. His defensive potential is limited by his short wingspan, 6’5”, and athleticism. He plays hard and shows maturity which should help him in the short term, but in the long run he could end up getting exposed by elite offensive talent. Defensive playmaking is not his strong suit either, as he only averages 0.8 steals and 0.3 blocks per game.
Kennard could definitely improve on the defensive side of the ball. Many NBA players learn how to become better defenders over time. He will just have to make sure that he is listening to his coaches, studying film and working hard at it in the gym.
With the Lakers, Kennard could be a sound fit. With Jordan Clarkson embracing the sixth man role and Nick Young likely to be gone after this year or the next, the Lakers will have a hole at shooting guard. Kennard would bring some shooting into the lineup, which would be a big plus. If he can turn into another playmaker alongside D’Angelo Russell it just adds to his value.
Where it might struggle to work is on defense and athletically. Both Kennard and Russell are not elite athletes. They are both not defense first players. This could be a struggle for Walton to deal with, but with a great athlete in Clarkson coming off of the bench and Brandon Ingram helping them defensively, it could work.
Kennard will have a spot in the NBA. Where that spot is has yet to be determined. He could continue to be a great scorer or he might have already reached his full potential and will struggle to find playing time in the NBA.