Kennard’s late surge
With injuries unsettling the Lakers late in the season, Luke Kennard has taken on emergency ball‑handling duties and recorded 31 assists over the team’s last four games. (latimes.com) The Los Angeles Times framed those assists as part of Kennard’s shift into an ad‑hoc point‑guard role while the team manages lineup absences. (latimes.com)
Luke Kennard has totaled 31 assists in the Los Angeles Lakers’ last four games after stepping into emergency ball‑handling duties amid late‑season lineup absences. (latimes.com) Those assists came in a four‑game span that included 3 on April 2 at Oklahoma City, 11 on April 5 at Dallas, 9 on April 7 at home versus Oklahoma City and 8 on April 9 at Golden State. (espn.com) The Los Angeles Times described Kennard’s shift as an ad‑hoc point‑guard role for a team “managing lineup absences,” noting the surge in his play‑making. The role change follows injury disruption: the Lakers announced Austin Reaves would miss the remainder of the regular season with a Grade‑2 oblique strain, a development reported April 4. (nba.com) Kennard arrived in Los Angeles via a Feb. 5 trade with the Atlanta Hawks that sent Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second‑round pick the other way. (nba.com) On April 5 at Dallas Kennard recorded the first triple‑double of his nine‑year NBA career, finishing with 15 points, a career‑high 16 rebounds and 11 assists. (espn.com) Teammates and coach have pointed to Kennard’s versatility: LeBron James said “he’s just a ball player,” and Kennard credited “being organized, controlling pace” while coach JJ Redick called him “a professional.” (sports.yahoo.com) The Lakers close the regular season Sunday against the Utah Jazz; Kennard’s expanded on‑ball duties will be a key variable as Los Angeles heads into the playoffs. (espn.com)
