{"id":213143,"date":"2026-03-10T13:52:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T13:52:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/213143\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T13:52:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T13:52:16","slug":"luke-kennards-prolific-3-point-shooting-is-transforming-lakers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/213143\/","title":{"rendered":"Luke Kennard’s prolific 3-point shooting is transforming Lakers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Benvenuti a The Times Lakers newsletter<\/a>, where, after a month in Italy, we are so back.<\/p>\n

The Lakers<\/a> are largely in the same situation as when I left. They\u2019re still safely in the playoff race with a 39-25 record, but flirting with the play-in. LeBron James<\/a>, Luka Doncic<\/a> and Austin Reaves<\/a> are still searching for their three-man chemistry. Deandre Ayton<\/a> hasn\u2019t dyed his hair again.<\/p>\n

But the tl;dr<\/a> version of February does have one major change for the Lakers.<\/p>\n

Hot hand Luke \"Lakers <\/p>\n

Lakers guard Luke Kennard reacts after making a three-pointer against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 7.<\/p>\n

(Gina Ferazzi \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

JJ Redick<\/a> always knew how good of a shooter Luke Kennard<\/a> was. This former Duke sharpshooter wouldn\u2019t expect anything less from another Blue Devils star. But Kennard\u2019s influence since joining the Lakers in a February trade has gone beyond his league-leading three-point percentage.<\/p>\n

The Lakers are 5-1 in the past six games with Kennard shooting a blazing 56.7% from three-point range. He jump-starts the Lakers\u2019 offense with his constant motion and elite floor spacing, making the transition from midseason acquisition to integral bench piece look effortless.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt all comes down to, like, the point-five decision making,\u201d Redick said. \u201c… That\u2019s where we try to focus a lot of the development [on] being able to recognize when there has been an advantage created, and then playing off that and not giving up the advantage. And we have some guys that have to grow in that area.<\/p>\n

All things Lakers, all the time. <\/p>\n

\u201cLuke,\u201d Redick added, \u201cthat\u2019s what he does.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Lakers were shooting 34.9% from three before the trade, 21st in the league. Since acquiring Kennard, the Lakers are shooting 39.2% from three-point range, ranking second in the NBA during that stretch.<\/p>\n

Kennard, shooting 50% from the three-point line, is on track to become just the sixth NBA player to shoot 50% or better from three over an entire season. There are some players in the NBA who couldn\u2019t hit 50 out of 100 three-pointers in an empty gym, Redick said.<\/p>\n

Redick has known Kennard for more than a decade. Not only was he comfortable with the coaching staff, Kennard also has history with former Memphis teammates Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart and being in L.A., playing with the Clippers from 2020 to 2023. Kennard said he \u201clit up inside,\u201d when he heard he would be heading to the Lakers, who sent Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick to Atlanta in the deal.<\/p>\n

The organization is \u201cthe biggest stage you can play on in basketball,\u201d Kennard said. And he gets to share it with generational talents.<\/p>\n

Playing with Doncic and James has created some of the most open three-point shots Kennard has had in his career, he said. When he gets one wide-open three early, that only helps his rhythm. Then teams start to help too much on his shooting and that opens the paint. It\u2019s the type of chain reaction Kennard watched with envy from the opposite sideline when Doncic, then with Dallas, was slicing up the Clippers in the playoffs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s definitely something you think about like, \u2018Man, I wish that was me there getting those open looks,\u2019\u201d Kennard said. \u201cBut now it\u2019s a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kennard marvels at his new reality sometimes. When Doncic was in his peak, \u201cLuka Magic\u201d form Friday, banking line-drive step-back threes off the backboard in the Lakers\u2019 rout over the Indiana Pacers, Kennard said he caught himself just gawking at his teammate a few times.<\/p>\n

But Doncic, who scored 44 points in the win, was quick to credit the team\u2019s bench contributions. Kennard had 15 points on three-of-five three-point shooting, and Doncic said he has encouraged Kennard to shoot more.<\/p>\n

A smile broke across Kennard\u2019s face when he was told of the praise.<\/p>\n

\u201cEspecially coming from a guy like that,\u201d Kennard said, \u201cone of the best scorers ever to play the game, it just builds confidence in you as a player to play off of him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Catching Kareem \"Lakers <\/p>\n

Lakers star LeBron James shoots over Denver\u2019s Zeke Nnaji to set the all-time NBA record for most successful field goals on Thursday.<\/p>\n

(Chris Swann \/ Clarkson Creative \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

He used it to break the NBA\u2019s most iconic record. It seemed fitting that James used a midrange fadeaway shot to claim another record from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Already the leader in NBA seasons played, minutes played and points scored, James added another record to his resume last week by passing Abdul-Jabbar for most made field goals in NBA history. His record-breaking 15,838th made shot came against Denver on Thursday, and, with a 180-degree pirouette added, looked similar to the shot he used to claim the scoring record from Abdul-Jabbar in 2023.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the day, just to be able to link my name to being mentioned with some of the greatest to ever play this game has always been humbling and a pretty cool thing,\u201d James said after the Lakers lost<\/a>. \u201cI grew up watching, reading [about], idolizing a lot of the greats and if I ever was able to be part of the NBA, I wanted to put myself in position that I can be named with some of the greats by doing something right.\u201d<\/p>\n

The record is a true testament to James\u2019 staying power. He established the regular-season scoring record in the same 20 seasons as Abdul-Jabbar played, but the field-goal record would have been well out of reach had James not continued into his historic 23rd season. When comparing their NBA careers, Abdul-Jabbar, who averaged 10.15 made field goals per game across his career to James\u2019 9.86, made more shots than James in 16 of 20 seasons. Abdul-Jabbar had two 1,000 field goal seasons while James\u2019 highest total was 875 in his third year. Michael Jordan, in 1989-90, was the last NBA player with more than 1,000 made field goals in a season (1,034).<\/p>\n

\"Lakers <\/p>\n

(Thuc Nhi Nguyen \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

James\u2019 longevity and productivity at the twilight of his career is so unmatched that even the idea that the James era could end soon barely even registers for some competitors.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he can play forever,\u201d Knicks coach Mike Brown said when asked if he thinks about how any game could be the last he coaches against James. \u201cThat\u2019s just my personal opinion. I know he won\u2019t, but the shape that he is in and how he takes care of his body is just amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

James, who is ineligible for postseason awards for the first time in his career because he missed more than 17 games, is questionable for Tuesday\u2019s game with a right hip contusion and left foot arthritis. He has missed the last two games with a left elbow contusion he sustained in the final minutes against Denver. He did not practice Monday.<\/p>\n

The next personal milestone for James may be career games played, where he trails Robert Parish\u2019s 1,611 by five.<\/p>\n

On tap<\/p>\n

Records and stats current before Monday\u2019s games. <\/p>\n

Tuesday vs. Timberwolves (40-24), 8 p.m. <\/p>\n

With two October wins that feel like a lifetime ago, the Lakers already own the head-to-head season tiebreaker against the Timberwolves, meaning that a win Tuesday could vault the Lakers to third place in the West.<\/p>\n

Thursday vs. Bulls (26-38), 7:30 p.m. <\/p>\n

This is the only should-win game of the week against a team well outside of the playoff race. The Bulls added Collin Sexton at the trade deadline, but the former Charlotte guard left Sunday\u2019s game against the Sacramento Kings with a leg injury.<\/p>\n

Saturday vs. Nuggets (39-26), 5:30 p.m. <\/p>\n

This game will decide the season series tiebreaker between the Lakers and Nuggets, who split their first two games.<\/p>\n

Monday at Rockets (39-24), 6:30 p.m. PDT<\/p>\n

The Lakers and Rockets have consecutive games in Houston on Monday and Wednesday. The Rockets are not the same team that dominated the Lakers on Christmas Day, though. Steven Adams has been out since Jan. 20 with a season-ending ankle injury, and a team that was on pace to be the best rebounding squad in a generation is seventh over the last 15 games with a 51.5% rebounding rate.<\/p>\n

Favorite thing I ate this week \"Gnocchi <\/p>\n

Gnocchi with spider crab and tomato sauce and black spaghetti with tuna tartare in Venice, Italy.<\/p>\n

(Thuc Nhi Nguyen \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been back from Italy for a week, but I didn\u2019t share any meals from my post-Olympic vacation. We definitely saved the best for last in Italy.<\/p>\n

Possibly my favorite of my entire month was in Venice at Oniga, a cozy restaurant we found away from the otherwise crowded narrow streets. Staying true to Venetian seafood tradition, we began with an appetizer of mussels and clams in a tomato sauce that had me wiping the bowl with our fresh baked bread. Our mains (pictured) were fresh gnocchi with local spider crab and tomato sauce and black spaghetti with tuna tartare and garlic oil. For dessert, we had salted caramel panna cotta and pistachio tiramisu. Squisito!<\/p>\n

In case you missed it<\/p>\n

Lakers prove against Knicks they can achieve gritty defensive wins<\/a><\/p>\n

Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves carry LeBron-less Lakers to win over Knicks<\/a><\/p>\n

Luka Doncic joins elite Lakers company with 44-point effort in win over Pacers<\/a><\/p>\n

Luka Doncic is one technical foul away from an automatic suspension<\/a><\/p>\n

LeBron James breaks another Kareem Abdul-Jabbar record, but hurts his elbow in loss<\/a><\/p>\n

Swanson: The Lakers are the wrong kind of interesting amid relentless fan scrutiny<\/a><\/p>\n

Lakers hope comeback win over Pelicans gives the team a timely boost<\/a><\/p>\n

All five starters score in double figures as Lakers defeat the Pelicans<\/a><\/p>\n

Until next time…<\/p>\n

As always, pass along your thoughts to me at thucnhi.nguyen@latimes.com<\/a>, and please consider subscribing<\/a> if you like our work!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Benvenuti a The Times Lakers newsletter, where, after a month in Italy, we are so back. The Lakers…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":213144,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[26334,26340,26338,26339,48,52,51,1415,47,50,49,63,26341,1086,9442,6466,26335,427,315,26337,26336,430],"class_list":["post-213143","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-los-angeles","tag-big-trade-move","tag-guys","tag-howard","tag-jerami-grant","tag-la","tag-la-headlines","tag-la-news","tag-lakers","tag-los-angeles","tag-los-angeles-headlines","tag-los-angeles-news","tag-los-angeles-times","tag-next-month","tag-pandemic","tag-player","tag-players","tag-talen-horton","tag-team","tag-time","tag-trade-season","tag-tucker","tag-week"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213143","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=213143"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213143\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/213144"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=213143"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=213143"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=213143"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}