Luke Kennard could make NBA history with 3-point shooting

Even in retirement, the competitive fire in JJ Redick still burns — which is part of the reason why he wanted to become the Lakers coach.

This was evident when Redick was asked about Lakers wing Luke Kennard, who’s on the cusp of a historic 3-point shooting season, and how many 3-point shots out of 100 Kennard would make in an open gym?

“Probably somewhere around what I would shoot,” responded Redick, who was a great shooter within his own right during his college career at Duke and 15-season NBA career. 

And how many would that be?

“A good day, I don’t know, 88, 89,” Redick said.

“Catch and shoot — I was a better movement shooter than Luke,” Redick quipped. “Just kidding.”

But was he actually kidding?

“No, I’m not,” Redick said while laughing. 

For what it’s worth, without knowing Redick’s comments, Kennard said on a good day he could probably make 90 3s in an open gym.

“I’d probably…just right above him,” Kennard joked. 

But Kennard has the opportunity to achieve a feat that even Redick didn’t accomplish.

Kennard entered Tuesday’s home game against the Timberwolves shooting a league-best 50% on 3s.

There have only been six players who’ve qualified for 3-point percentage leaderboard who’ve made at least half of their 3s in a season: Jon Sundvold (1988-89), Steve Kerr (1989-90; 1994-95; 1995-96), Detlef Schrempf (1994-95), Tim Legler (1995-96), Jason Kapono (2006-07) and Kyle Korver (2009-10). 

“It’s incredibly impressive,” Redick said of Kennard. “He’ll have a six-minute run and take one, and he’ll sit for 15 minutes in real time and then come back in and take another one. It’s really impressive. I thought he was a really good shooter at Duke. He’s developed into an elite shooter and really just a fantastic playmaker.”

Redick, whose career-high in 3-point shooting for a season was 47.5% while with the Clippers in 2015-16, can appreciate the challenge of maintaining such a high 3-point percentage.

“I remember one year, Jason Kapono, we played them late in the regular season, and he kept spotting up from 19 feet,” the Lakers coach quipped. “He didn’t want to mess with it.”

That won’t be Kennard’s approach. 

“It would be really cool,” Kennard said. “I think for me, I don’t think I need to think about percentage or anything like that. It’s just trying to get up attempts, honestly. My averages have been what they’ve been. I think it’ll kind of even out at the end of the day. But it would be really cool if that happened. But at the same time, it’s just trying to get attempts and just being aggressive in that aspect. Whatever happens, happens.”

Kennard entered Tuesday shooting 51.1% on 3s on 3.4 attempts per game since the Hawks traded him to the Lakers last month.

He’s found the quality of his 3-point shots have gotten better since playing alongside Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves. 

“Recently, I’ve gotten some of the most open looks I’ve had all year, and in my career,” Kennard said. “And it gives you a rhythm. I mean you get one wide-open look early in the game and then you’re feeling good about it, even if it’s a miss. I mean you find that rhythm and it helps me a lot. If teams start to overreact, they don’t help as much, it gives those guys more room to do what they do, get in the paint, score, throw those lobs to those guys and, and make plays for us. But and then at the same time if they run me off the three-point line, I’m able to get in the paint, I like to cause havoc, and just keep our offense going, find that rhythm within the group, share the ball, and make plays.”

The Lakers have made it clear they want Kennard to shoot even more than he does.

“Every time Luke shoots the ball, we think it’s going in,” Jake LaRavia said. “And I think he has the same mindset. We want him to shoot more. Because again, every time he shoots the ball, he’s got a good chance of making it. So, we’re just trying to get him as many shots as he can right now. Obviously Luka likes playing with him because he’s able to spread the floor. And shooting was one of the things we were lacking in and I think it’s been a lot better recently. So, just being able to add him to the team has been a huge help.

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