JJ Redick ‘simple’ request for Luke Kennard’s LA debut

LOS ANGELES – With Los Angeles Lakers against the Golden State Warriors in a blowout game on Saturday, a new acquisition Luke Kennard was available for debut in the team. The The Lakers acquired Kennard at the trade deadline in a deal with the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Gabe Vincent and a second-round pick.

Before the Lakers game against the Warriors, the head coach JJ Redick talked about what his initial plans were for using Luke Kennard in the middle of practice time.

“We feel like we’re in a good place,” Reddick said. “It won’t be perfect, but the two words he knows, we’ll be fine. We’ll be easy on him when he’s there.”

New Lakers guard Luke Kennard works out before the game with Lindsay Harding. pic.twitter.com/h5TVvj0l3B

— David Mendez-Iapkovitz (@Dave_Iapkovitz) February 8, 2026

Doc Kennard is known for his 3-point shooting; he leads the league in shooting at 49.7 percent, Redick was equally excited to use him as an on-ball threat and another capable playmaker.

“I think one of the underrated parts of him is, he was on the half-shot as the initiator of the action, if that makes sense … playing off the ear, where that little Iverson is cut into a drive or a lateral pick-and-roll, you play him off the ball obviously to initiate the action,” Redick said. “But he’s able to make the right play consistently, and because of that, as far as moving the ball, he could be a guy that kind of starts your offense.”

On the Lakers’ depth chart, Kennard would look to be the first guard off the bench once the team returns to its normal lineup. Austin Reeves is currently coming off the bench amid a minutes restriction as he continues to work his way back from a calf injury.

Kennard signed with the Hawks as a free agent last offseason after about two and a half years with the Memphis Grizzlies. He appeared in 46 games with just over 20 minutes per game. Kennard averaged 7.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists on 53.8 percent shooting from the field, 49.7 percent from the 3-point line and 91.4 percent from the free throw line.

The No. 12 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Kennard is in his ninth season in the league. He started his career with the Detroit Pistons where he played for three seasons before being traded to the LA Clippers.