JJ Reddick will love Luke Kennard’s first game with LA
The battle in the Cripto.com Arena is far from over, but Los Angeles Lakers they have already given their fans a moment to remember in this high-stakes matchup against the Golden State Warriors. With Luka Dončić watches from the side due to the excruciating strain of the left hamstring, the spotlight shifted to the newest sniper in town, Luke Kennard.
Acquired just days ago from the Atlanta Hawks, it didn’t take long for Kennard to prove why he is the head coach JJ Redick was so high in the trade. Early in the game, Kennard leaked in transition and stepped up for a clean 3-pointer in front of Golden State’s bench.
Luke Kennard DRILLS a three for his first bucket as a Laker 🎯
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 8, 2026
Warriors coach Steve Kerr could only watch as the ball shot into the net, marking Kennard’s first bucket in purple and gold. The shot shook the arena and even caught the eye of Doncic, who was seen on the broadcast smiling and applauding his new teammate’s immediate hit.
Before tipping off, Redick kept his instructions incredibly simple for a shooter: just shoot. Known for being too selfless at times, Kennard seems to have taken that advice to heart.
The veteran guard, who currently leads the league at 49.7 percent from downtown, provides a huge upgrade in spacing for a Los Angeles team that has struggled to find consistency from the perimeter. With the Lakers clinging to a lead late in the fourth quarter, every possession feels like a playoff preview.
Austin Reeves was doing hard work offensive, but the gravitas that Kennard provides is already paving the way for others. It remains to be seen if the Lakers can hold off this late surge from Golden State, but the debut of the NBA’s active leader in 3-point percentage is already warranted.
2026-02-08 03:42:00
