{"id":157621,"date":"2025-09-03T07:00:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T11:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=157621"},"modified":"2025-09-02T20:56:56","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T00:56:56","slug":"luke-kennards-role-hawks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/09\/03\/luke-kennards-role-hawks\/","title":{"rendered":"Projecting Luke Kennard’s 2025-26 Role With Hawks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Offseason addition Luke Kennard<\/a> brings much-needed outside shooting to the Atlanta Hawks. The guard provides elite three-point shooting to an offense that struggled to take advantage of open looks last year. The Hawks ranked sixth in wide-open three-point attempts<\/a> (21.8) but 22nd in conversion (38.1%). Kennard can certainly boost that number in Quin Snyder’s offense, which is predicated on volume from beyond the arc. The eight-year veteran will see some of the most open looks of his career, but Atlanta fans should expect Kennard to have a role on the ball as well.<\/p>\n

Projecting Luke Kennard’s 2025-26 Role With Hawks<\/h2>\n

Balancing Playmaking and Off-Ball 3-Point Shooting<\/h3>\n
\"Memphis
Nov 25, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard (10) shoots for three during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kennard came into the league with the Detroit Pistons as a three-point specialist and immediately became one of the best shooters in the league. The former Duke product has only shot below 41% from deep twice in his career. Kennard is one of three players with 100 made three-pointers<\/a> on 40% efficiency in the past three seasons. In fact, he sits third on the NBA’s all-time three-point percentage<\/a> list.<\/p>\n

However, in two and a half seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, Kennard developed his ball-handling and playmaking skills. He operated as a point guard when Ja Morant<\/a> and Scotty Pippen Jr.<\/a> were off the floor. He flashed improved handling, patience, and the ability to make advanced reads out of pick-and-rolls.<\/p>\n

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Luke Kennard is coming off the best playmaking season of his career \ud83d\udcfd\ufe0f<\/p>\n

Inventive passer who uses the the threat of his shooting to blow past closeouts and get his guys open, really good at finding cutters off a live dribble<\/p>\n

3.3 potential assists per 1-min on-ball (90th%) pic.twitter.com\/QO9lzqmKsd<\/a><\/p>\n

— #InSnyderWeTrust (@dlee4three) July 1, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n