Luke Kennard was acquired to bolster the Los Angeles Lakers’ 3-point shooting. After 11 games, he’s already making a push to become the team’s statistical leader in 3-pointers made.
Lakers’ Bench Scoring Woes
The Lakers’ second unit has struggled this season. They rank 29th in the NBA for bench scoring, ahead of only the Houston Rockets.
This lack of scoring has impacted their 3-point shooting. The Lakers are 29th in the NBA for 3-pointers made from the bench, ahead of just the Orlando Magic. Kennard is on track to potentially become the team leader in this category among individual players.
Kennard’s Rapid Ascent
In 10 games off the bench, Kennard has made 15 3-point shots. Dalton Knecht currently leads the Lakers with 30 made 3-pointers in 45 appearances.
At his current rate, Kennard is projected to pass Knecht in approximately 10 more games. However, there’s a challenge to this.
Hachimura’s Threat From Deep
Rui Hachimura is also a perimeter threat for the Lakers. Hachimura has been moved back to the bench permanently. He is tied for second on the team with Gabe Vincent with 28 3-pointers made off the bench.
Hachimura is expected to continue adding to his total. This would make Rui the main competition for the lead.
Kennard’s Increasing Shot Attempts
Kennard is averaging 2.9 attempts per game from beyond the arc since joining the Lakers. Recently, there’s been a push to get him more shots. Over his last three games, he’s increased that number to 5.0. The Lakers are likely to want him to maintain this higher volume of shots.
By the end of the season, there’s a strong possibility Kennard will lead the Lakers in 3-pointers made off the bench. A low benchmark will help him secure his place in the team’s history.