The LA Clippers have one of the deepest rosters in the NBA. Outside of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers have numerous high-end role players. These guys have the experience and talent it takes to contribute to a championship-contending team.
One player whose contributions are extremely important is Luke Kennard. Since entering the league in 2017, Kennard has been regarded as one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA. What many don’t know is that Kennard’s elite three-point shooting ability makes the job of his teammates much easier.
Luke Kennard creates space in such a unique manner. Because Kennard is mainly a three-point shooter, many off-ball screens are set for Kennard to gain space for his three-point shots. Additionally, Kennard moves around off-ball which gives defenses a hard time keeping up. Kennard may also be used as a decoy to set up another player for a chance to score the ball.
Luke Kennard’s skill set is extremely overlooked. After a rough first season with the LA Clippers, Kennard dominated in his second season proving why he deserved a four-year, $64 million contract extension. Kennard is one of the most valuable players on the LA Clippers. Continue reading to find out more about why Luke Kennard’s impact is unmatched.
Luke Kennard should be considered untouchable
Luke Kennard may have had the best season of his career last year. Kennard posted 11.9 points per game, 3.3 rebounds per game, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 44.9% from the field, and a league-high 44.9% from the three-point line. Although these numbers may look great, what Kennard does away from the ball is what makes him so valuable.
With the addition of John Wall, having players who can catch and shoot at an efficient rate makes winning games even easier. Luke Kennard is the best catch-and-shoot player in the NBA. Last season, Kennard shot a “catch and shoot” three-point percentage of 45.8 on 4.6 attempts per game.
Overall, Kennard would score 6.8 “catch and shoot” points per game. In addition, Kennard would run 1.1 miles per game on the offensive end. This shows how effective Kennard can be by moving off-ball and creating space for himself.
Patty Mills, one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA, had extremely similar numbers. Mills shot a “catch and shoot” three-point percentage of 44.2 on 5.4 attempts per game. In addition, Mills would score 6.9 “catch and shoot” points per game while running on 1.18 miles per game on the offensive end. This adds to how elite of a three-point shooter Luke Kennard is.
As the LA Clippers enter next season at full health, Luke Kennard’s impact can be even stronger. Opponents will be focused on Leonard, George, Wall, and Powell, which will give guys like Luke Kennard open looks. Head Coach Tyronn Lue loves ball movement as well as running plays to get his players’ open looks. There will be several opportunities for Kennard to succeed given his situation and his elite skill set.
Below are some of Luke Kennard’s best performances throughout the 2021-22 NBA season
- October 25, 2021 – versus the Portland Trailblazers – 23 points and 6 three-pointers made in only 24 minutes
- December 11, 2021 – versus the Orlando Magic – 23 points, 5 assists, and 7 three-pointers made
- December 18, 2021 – versus the OKC Thunder – 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 three-pointers made
- January 25, 2022 – versus the Washington Wizards – 25 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists
- February 17, 2022 – versus the Houston Rockets – 25 points and 8 three-pointers made in only 23 minutes
With next season arguably being the most important season in franchise history, Luke Kennard’s contributions will be much needed. Kennard is the best three-point shooter on the Clippers as his teammates and coaches constantly encourage him to take as many shots as he can.
Signing this free agent would make LA Clippers unstoppable
With the LA Clippers already having a championship-contending roster, making a cheap addition could make all the difference in a title run.
Next season may be the best season of Kennard’s career which will make him due for a payday. The LA Clippers have no room for error, and with the help of Luke Kennard, they will make a deep playoff run in hopes of winning a title.