JJ Redick hasn’t been on the Lakers sideline long, but he’s already zeroing in on one of the more puzzling habits in the NBA: Luke Kennard’s reluctance to shoot the basketball.
Now, let’s be clear-most NBA players don’t have this problem. If anything, it’s the opposite.
Confidence comes with the territory when you’re one of the 500 best basketball players on the planet. These guys have been the best player on every team they’ve ever been on, often since middle school.
So when they get to the league, they usually don’t need much convincing to let it fly.
Kennard, though? He’s the outlier. And not in the way you’d expect.
This is a guy who leads the league in three-point percentage this season at a blistering 49.7%. That’s not a typo.
And it’s not a fluke, either. Over the last six seasons, his lowest mark from deep is 43.3%.
He’s not just a good shooter-he’s historically elite. Statistically speaking, he’s one of the best shooters to ever lace 'em up.
Outside of Stephen Curry, there may not be a more efficient long-range threat in the game today.
But here’s the catch: he won’t shoot.
Redick, who’s known Kennard for over a decade, didn’t waste any time addressing it. “I think he’s one of the best shooters in the NBA,” Redick said during a recent press conference. “I’m gonna highly encourage him to shoot more and not turn down shots.”
That might sound like a coach just hyping up his new player. But read between the lines, and it’s clear Redick knows exactly what he’s dealing with.
This isn’t just encouragement-it’s a challenge. And a necessary one.
Because the numbers tell a frustrating story. Despite being the most accurate shooter on the Hawks this season before landing in L.A., Kennard ranked just 13th on the team in three-point attempts per 100 possessions.
The only rotation players who shot less frequently from deep? Jalen Johnson, Mo Gueye, Dyson Daniels, and Christian Koloko-guys who, to put it kindly, aren’t exactly known for their range.
This isn’t a new issue, either. Every coach Kennard has played for has tried to crack the code.
In Memphis, the staff was vocal about wanting him to be more aggressive. “They’ve been on me ever since I got there just to be aggressive and hunt my shot as much as I can,” Kennard said at the time.
And in Atlanta, Quin Snyder echoed the same sentiment before the season: “I’m really adamant that I want him to be as aggressive shooting the ball as he can be.”
The message has been consistent. The results? Not so much.
And that’s the challenge Redick now faces. He’s not just trying to get a shooter open-he’s trying to get one of the best shooters in the world to actually shoot.
At 29 years old, Kennard is a veteran. He is who he is at this point in his career.
And while Redick might bring a fresh voice and a new perspective, it’s hard to imagine a complete transformation overnight. Old habits die hard, especially when they’re baked into your on-court identity.
That’s not to say Kennard can’t be valuable in L.A.-he absolutely can. His gravity alone forces defenders to stay glued to him, opening up lanes for the Lakers’ stars to operate.
But when games tighten up and possessions matter most, the Lakers need more than just spacing. They need shots.
And Kennard has to be willing to take them.
So don’t be surprised if, down the line, Lakers fans are left scratching their heads after a close loss where Kennard logs 20 minutes and only puts up two threes. Redick knows the stakes.
He knows the numbers. And now, he’s got to find a way to unlock the one thing that’s eluded every coach before him: turning one of the game’s most reluctant snipers into a real weapon.
Because if Kennard ever starts shooting like his percentages say he should? The Lakers might just have found themselves a game-changer hiding in plain sight.