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This Luke Kennard NBA Draft profile focuses on arguably the best shooter in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Luke Kennard – 6’6″, Shooting Guard, Duke University, 20 Years Old
Luke Kennard has a modern NBA skill set and there will be multiple teams chomping at the bit to get ahold of his services. A 6’6″ combo guard, Kennard is a scoring machine despite not being an elite level athlete. His scoring prowess is apparent as he now holds the record for most points in a high school career in the state of Ohio, an honor that used to belong to LeBron James. Kennard saw a huge increase in production from his freshman to sophomore season at Duke. He averaged 19.5 points per game and 2.5 assists on 50 percent from the field and 44 percent from three in his 2016-17 campaign. A clutch performer, Kennard is not afraid of the spotlight and is capable of making tough shots.
Projections on where Kennard will land have been all over the place, ranging anywhere from 10 to 26 on most boards. He has skyrocketed up many scouts’ charts with his strong showings in NBA workouts.
Strengths
Despite not being a gifted athlete, Kennard’s smooth stroke and basketball IQ make him a great fit for the modern NBA. At 6’6″, he has great size for a shooting guard and can even play point guard sometimes because of his good decision-making and tight handle. Due to that size, he’s a matchup nightmare for smaller guards who struggle to contain him. He relies on shot fakes, changes of speed, and crisp footwork to get into the paint where he is a tremendous finisher. He shot over 60 percent on floaters, using either hand consistently to score inside. If he cannot get into the lane due to his lack of athleticism, Kennard is excellent at creating space in the midrange area with step-backs and pivots. He’s often able to find a window and shoot over defenders with his lightning quick release.
While his basketball savvy and finishing inside the arc is impressive, Kennard’s three-point shot is what will immediately make him a contributor on an NBA roster. With an extremely fast release, Kennard can pull the trigger from well beyond the NBA line, even with a defender in his face. Additionally, he’s capable of coming off of screens and moving constantly without the ball. Kennard shot a sizzling 44 percent from behind the line on 5.4 attempts per game last season. With the modern NBA placing an emphasis on spacing, Kennard will be an immediate impact player based on reputation alone – opposing teams will not want to leave him open.
Weaknesses
There is one issue with Kennard’s game that will immediately be scrutinized: his athleticism. He has a good NBA body at 6’6″ and 220 lbs but does not have NBA quickness nor explosiveness. His closeouts are often lackadaisical, too upright, and out of control. Because of this, superior athletes are often able to blow by Kennard; he does not have the quickness and length to recover. While his size and craftiness are useful in defending players in the post, his relatively short 6’5″ wingspan limits his ability to contest shots. That allows players who are smaller than Kennard to shoot over the top. In the pick-and-roll, quicker guards can pick on Kennard, as he struggles to recover after being hit by screens.
Offensively, Kennard has the talent to be a competent scorer off the bounce, but there are question marks about whether or not his skill set will translate to the next level. He relies heavily on his size and craftiness to score on college level athletes. It remains to be seen whether he can break down NBA defenders off the dribble. This might be an overreaction because Kennard has so many skills at such a young age and he has such a large assortment of moves.
NBA Potential
Kennard’s potential is somewhat limited because of his lack of athleticism. His lack of defensive quickness may prevent him from ever being an NBA starter. If he can add strength, his chances of becoming a starter will increase greatly. In his first few seasons, Kennard will probably be a three-point specialist off of the bench. His team will likely use him to stretch the floor, as well as come off of pin-down screens to catch and create, similar to how J.J. Redick is used.
NBA Comparison
Kennard has been compared to the likes of C.J. McCollum, rather unfairly, because of his ability to make shots. A better comparison is Nik Stauskas of the Philadelphia 76ers. This is not a knock on Kennard, as Stauskas is a tall shooting guard with a smooth stroke and above average passing skills. Stauskas has, unfortunately, played for the two most disorganized and poorly run franchises in the NBA during his first few seasons – Sacramento and Philadelphia. Stauskas still has plenty of talent, despite some obvious flaws. Kennard is similar in both skill set and flaws. He will never be a lockdown defender, but he’ll most likely have a prolonged career because of his smooth shooting stroke and strong basketball IQ.
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