2025-26 Season
LUKE KENNARD
2025-26 Season
LUKE KENNARD
PBP Credit: Every play is analyzed from play-by-play data. Scorers get difficulty-adjusted credit, assisters get creation value based on the shot opportunity they created, and turnovers are classified by type. Shot difficulty is derived from 1M+ shots across 4 seasons. Full methodology
TEAM COMPARISON
of 15 teammates (10+ games, 10+ min)
Similar Players
Same position, closest production profile this season.
SKILL DNA
Percentile rank vs 245 Guards with 10+ games
THE SEASON SO FAR
Luke Kennard's opening stretch of the 2025-26 campaign was defined by maddening passivity and an outright refusal to exert his gravitational pull on opposing defenses. During a brutal 10/22 vs TOR outing, he bled points in transition and bricked his signature catch-and-shoot looks, dragging his impact score down to a catastrophic -17.6. He occasionally flashed his true ceiling as a sniper, punishing defensive rotations with lethal floor-spacing during a 17-point performance on 10/29 vs BKN that yielded a +4.5 impact. However, those aggressive nights were the exception rather than the rule. By the time he faced the Sixers on 11/30 vs PHI, his offensive footprint had vanished entirely; he missed all three of his attempts from deep and posted an abysmal -8.3 impact. When Kennard actively hunts his shot, his gravity opens up the interior for his teammates. But when he hesitates, his lack of defensive resistance and failure to stretch the floor turn him into a glaring liability.
Luke Kennard’s midseason stretch was defined by extreme offensive volatility and a giant defensive bullseye on his back. Even when his shot fell, his physical limitations often carried a heavy hidden cost. Take his performance against OKC on 12/29, where he scored 12 points but still posted a -5.4 impact score because opponents relentlessly hunted him in pick-and-roll actions. When the jumper vanished entirely, he became a total liability. Facing BOS on 01/17, Kennard lost his rhythm and logged a disastrous -10.3 impact by failing to provide the floor spacing that justifies his minutes. Yet, his undeniable gravity as a shooter salvaged his value on nights when he caught fire. He was an absolute flamethrower against GSW on 01/11, ruthlessly punishing late defensive rotations to rack up 22 points and a massive +11.0 impact. He remains a potent but highly situational weapon, capable of either warping a defense or being played right off the floor.
This twenty-game stretch was defined by a maddening passivity that frequently turned a lethal sharpshooter into a mere offensive decoy. Far too often, Kennard's hesitancy to let it fly from deep allowed defenders to cheat off him and muck up the spacing, which was glaringly obvious during the 02/20 vs LAC matchup where he posted a brutal -6.6 impact. Even when his shots actually fell, defensive limitations and a lack of secondary playmaking dragged his overall value into the red. During the 03/08 vs NYK contest, a solid 12-point scoring night was completely undone by hidden negative factors on the other end of the floor, resulting in a poor -3.4 impact score. Yet, when he actively hunted his shot and contributed on the margins, his true value emerged. Look no further than the 02/12 vs DAL game; he scored just 9 points, but by grabbing 7 rebounds and punishing defensive lapses with quick-trigger perimeter strikes, he generated a massive +7.0 impact. Ultimately, his theoretical gravity means absolutely nothing if he refuses to pull the trigger or defend his yard.
IMPACT TIMELINE
Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.
Boom-or-bust player. Kennard's impact swings wildly relative to his average — some nights dominant, others invisible. Scoring varies by ~6 points per game.
Reliable shooter — hits 45%+ from the field in 71% of games. You can count on efficient nights more often than not.
Defensive impact is minimal for a 22-minute player. Not generating enough contests, rim protection, or forced turnovers to move the needle.
Slight upward trend. First-half impact: -2.7, second-half: +0.1. Modest improvement — possibly settling into a rhythm.
Tends to go on runs. Longest hot streak: 6 games. Longest cold streak: 6 games.
MATCHUP HISTORY
Based on 77 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.
ON OFFENSE: WHO GUARDED HIM
His shooting stats against each primary defender this season
ON DEFENSE: WHO HE GUARDED
How opponents shot when he was the primary defender. Lower FG% = better defense.
SEASON STATS
GAME LOG
79 games played
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