Thunder NBA Draft prospect series: Luke Kennard
By Rich Condon
Luke Kennard is the next potential OKC Thunder prospect up in the TI NBA Draft prospect series.
Tale of the Tape
Height: 6′ 6″
Weight: 202 lbs
Wingspan: 6′ 5.25″
Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 20
Statline: 19.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.4 blocks, 43.8 percent for three point
College: Duke (Sophomore)
Home Town: Franklin, Ohio
Current Rankings
As always, the rankings reflected below are as current as of the time this is being written and are subject to change.
DraftExpress: 13th
NBA DraftNet: 14th
Scott Howard-Cooper nba.com: ranks 3rd on Howard-Cooper’s shooting guard list
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor: 12th
CBS Sports: 15th
Basketball Insiders: 13th
Hoops Hype: 12th
Jeremy Woo SI.com, The Crossover: 14th
Skills
Kennard is arguably the best pure shooter in this year’s class, with only Malik Monk and maybe Lauri Markkanen in the same stratosphere. The sophomore finished his second season at Duke shooting 49% from the field, 43.8% from deep and 86% from the stripe. He even finished 2nd in the ACC in points per game at 19.5.
Kennard scored over 34 points three times this season, and finished with double-digit points in 35 out of 37 games. Simply put, Kennard’s business is scoring, and business in the NCAA was good.
His jump shot is absolutely his best asset. As Kennard decided to make the leap to the NBA, however, he showed flashes of a much improved all-around game this past season. He’s capable of coming off screens as well as spotting up, and he isn’t afraid to drive to the paint where he can finish with a decent array of floaters. Kennard showed no fear in the big moments and came up big in the clutch for Duke:
Given time to develop, Kennard also showed some playmaking chops in his 2nd year, perhaps indicating a future as a ball facilitator and even as a back-up point guard if needed. Though nowhere near a strength, the 20-year old showed a semblance of competency playing team defense. His individual defensive skills, however, are another story entirely. Most importantly, Kennard is a competitor and the jump in his game between his two years at Duke indicates a solid work ethic and a dedication to his craft.
Weaknesses
Unfortunately, there’s also a lot of downside to Kennard. He’s got good size at 6’6″, but his 6’5″ wingspan is problematic, especially on the defensive end. Combining his lack of length and lack of athleticism makes him a liability in individual defensive match-ups. He has the IQ to make the right play, but keeping his man in front of him has been an issue.
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Going back to the aforementioned lack of athleticism, Kennard will struggle to finish in the paint at the NBA level. His floater is nice but predictable. He plays completely under the rim, and shies away from contact. He’ll have trouble finishing through contact. He also struggles against athletic and long defenders.
Honors and awards:
- Consensus 2nd Team All-American 2017
- 1st Team All-ACC 2017
- ACC Tournament MVP 2017
- FIBA U18 Americas Championship Gold Medal 2014
Pro Comparison:
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor compares Kennard to Wesley Matthews, Greivis Vazques, and fellow Duke alum J.J. Redick.
The Fit:
Kennard fits the biggest need currently on the OKC Thunder: 3-point shooting. Unfortunately, there’s next to no shot he’ll be available when Sam Presti selects at 21. A trade-up into the teens in order to draft Kennard would be something worth considering for Presti and the Thunder.