Luke Kennard is a future star

[Han Solo]

Thank God we didn’t trade him to “win now”. I think he will lead our team in scoring at some point. His shot is the one of the prettiest shots in the league. Props to Casey and his staff for getting this kid to play confident. He will be our starting 2 guard next year. His role this year is perfect though. Love watching this kid.

[bstein14]

I've been saying for a while he has the most upside of any player we've drafted since Dre. When we first drafted him I thought he was mostly just a shooter but I was surprised to see him handle the ball his rookie year it was clear he had skills beyond just catching and shooting the ball. He is going to have a long career as a 15-20 PPG scorer and starter in this league. Not sure he is ever going to be an all-star but he for sure he going to be a long term starter and solid 2nd/3rd scorer type. People here tended to hate on him a bit largely because we took him over Mitchell but most of the hate has been unjustified and he's finally getting a chance to show what he can do. He's been much improved defensively as well.

[bstein14]

Look at Kennards shooting as a huge impact on whether we win or lose games.
In 19 games Kennard has played that we have won he's shot 48.6% from three.
In 24 games Kennard has played in that we have lost he's shot 32.3% from three.

[Manocad]

Look at Kennards shooting as a huge impact on whether we win or lose games.
In 19 games Kennard has played that we have won he's shot 48.6% from three.
In 24 games Kennard has played in that we have lost he's shot 32.3% from three.

While I fully admit that I haven’t done any sort of analysis of those 43 games, you might be wandering into correlation vs causation territory here. Otherwise the logic would dictate that if Kennard had shot 32% from three in all 43 games—which is not horrendous since it equates to 48% from two from a points scored perspective—the Pistons would likely have lost them all. That’s not a realistic determination from a causal standpoint, nor is the reverse. Not to mention that he very likely can’t maintain a 48% three point shooting clip so one shouldn’t be taking the “As long as Luke can just...” road.

My guess is that it’s more correlative since the Pistons seem to demonstrate that, Blake aside, when they win a handful of guys had above average games, and when they lose pretty much everybody sucked.

[bstein14]

For sure Luke has had some good shooting games we've lost and vice versa, and it only makes sense when shooters are hitting shots we're more likely to win games.

Blake shoots 39.4% three pointers in 30 wins and 34.3% three pointers in 29 losses and I'm sure a lot of Pistons have better % in wins vs losses but I do think that Kennards numbers are pretty drastically different.

[Snakebites]

For sure Luke has had some good shooting games we've lost and vice versa, and it only makes sense when shooters are hitting shots we're more likely to win games.

Blake shoots 39.4% three pointers in 30 wins and 34.3% three pointers in 29 losses and I'm sure a lot of Pistons have better % in wins vs losses but I do think that Kennards numbers are pretty drastically different.

I think it speaks to how important it is for us to have guys hitting threes in general a lot more than it speaks to Kennard specifically.

I'm certainly pleased with how he's been playing though I do also tire of the "if he can just keep this up" line of reasoning we've seen with just about every young player that's passed through.

[DETermination]

His attitude change is the biggest thing, as soon as he started playing with a chip on his shoulder he has been amazing.

[Manocad]

For sure Luke has had some good shooting games we've lost and vice versa, and it only makes sense when shooters are hitting shots we're more likely to win games.

Blake shoots 39.4% three pointers in 30 wins and 34.3% three pointers in 29 losses and I'm sure a lot of Pistons have better % in wins vs losses but I do think that Kennards numbers are pretty drastically different.

Sure, but without a full analytical breakdown of those wins and losses, i.e. the difference between Luke shooting 48% vs 32% from three represented the winning/losing margin in all those games, it's still a correlation. Taller people on average make more money than shorter people, however there's no evidence whatsoever that height in and of itself leads to a higher income. It's just a correlation.

The only reason I addressed it is due to the statement that Luke's 3-point shooting percentage has a "huge impact" on whether the Pistons win or lose. That's more believable if those were Blake or Reggie's numbers rather than a guy averaging 9.2 PPG consisting of 10.7 in wins and 8.0 in losses, a difference of one extra made 3-pointer in the wins. It's tough to argue that's a huge impact.

[DetroitSho]

His attitude change is the biggest thing, as soon as he started playing with a chip on his shoulder he has been amazing.

The "chip on the shoulder" angle is so overplayed and not even tangible. Stanley Johnson plays with a chip on his and that didn't work out so well. When Luke started to actually pull the trigger and stopped being so hesitant to shoot is what led to his turnaround.

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[7r5ur]

His attitude change is the biggest thing, as soon as he started playing with a chip on his shoulder he has been amazing.

The "chip on the shoulder" angle is so overplayed and not even tangible. Stanley Johnson plays with a chip on his and that didn't work out so well. When Luke started to actually pull the trigger and stopped being so hesitant to shoot is what led to his turnaround.

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I think this is also overblown. He took more shots and scored more on a per minute basis than Bullock. He's just playing more now, and is able to take a couple shots without getting yanked immediately if he misses.

Saw the same exact thing last year when Van Gundy let the reigns off.

Is he more confident and willing to pull the trigger quicker now in some cases? Sure, but you can't take the heat-check shots he was taking last night if you're worried about getting yanked if you miss.

There's also the little matter of him being healthy now compared to earlier in the year.

[DetroitSho]

His attitude change is the biggest thing, as soon as he started playing with a chip on his shoulder he has been amazing.

The "chip on the shoulder" angle is so overplayed and not even tangible. Stanley Johnson plays with a chip on his and that didn't work out so well. When Luke started to actually pull the trigger and stopped being so hesitant to shoot is what led to his turnaround.

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I think this is also overblown. He took more shots and scored more on a per minute basis than Bullock. He's just playing more now, and is able to take a couple shots without getting yanked immediately if he misses.

Saw the same exact thing last year when Van Gundy let the reigns off.

Is he more confident and willing to pull the trigger quicker now in some cases? Sure, but you can't take the heat-check shots he was taking last night if you're worried about getting yanked if you miss.

There's also the little matter of him being healthy now compared to earlier in the year.

Bruh he was passing up wide open kick outs and pull ups, which normally led to either a much worse shot or turnover. That happened quite a bit. Nobody was advocating for him to go full "Langston" but what he fasho needed to stop doing was going full "pump fake Ilyasova". Even now, he's much more aggressive than before and still ain't the gunner Langston is.

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[mattao313]

I don't think star but a 15ppg scorer is definitely possible. I think he breaks out next season.

[7r5ur]

The "chip on the shoulder" angle is so overplayed and not even tangible. Stanley Johnson plays with a chip on his and that didn't work out so well. When Luke started to actually pull the trigger and stopped being so hesitant to shoot is what led to his turnaround.

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I think this is also overblown. He took more shots and scored more on a per minute basis than Bullock. He's just playing more now, and is able to take a couple shots without getting yanked immediately if he misses.

Saw the same exact thing last year when Van Gundy let the reigns off.

Is he more confident and willing to pull the trigger quicker now in some cases? Sure, but you can't take the heat-check shots he was taking last night if you're worried about getting yanked if you miss.

There's also the little matter of him being healthy now compared to earlier in the year.

Bruh he was passing up wide open kick outs and pull ups, which normally led to either a much worse shot or turnover. That happened quite a bit. Nobody was advocating for him to go full "Langston" but what he fasho needed to stop doing was going full "pump fake Ilyasova". Even now, he's much more aggressive than before and still ain't the gunner Langston is.

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Again this is a misnomer. Luke takes more shots per minute than Galloway does.

Langston just takes bad shots, where Luke has good shot selection and isn't going to force it unless he's really feeling it. He's not passing up tons of wide open shots, and he uses that pump fake to get open looks CONSTANTLY. You can't just look at every time it doesn't work out and say it's dumb, while ignoring all of the times it does.

[Manocad]

The point being made was that Luke is NO LONGER passing up open looks, and he sure as hell used to. Enough to drive me nuts watching the games, yelling “You’re supposed to be a shooter! Shoot the damn ball when you’ve got a wide open shot, period!” at the TV MANY a time.


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[DBC10]

Luke definitely seems to have found his swagger as of late, still hesitant to call him a star yet though, for obvious reasons.

Still just want that one lucky draft pick that turns into a Covington or a Middleton for us. If Luke is that, then this team is a bit brighter than last year(s)

[tmorgan]

There's almost no chance Luke Kennard is a future star... so few guys that are primarily shooters have ever been regarded as star players. Reggie Miller is the best example, I suppose. Ray Allen was not just a shooter, he'd dunk on your head. Steph Curry, I suppose, but no one thinks Kennard is Curry, I'd hope.

That said, it's good to see him develop confidence. He can shoot off the dribble, that's for sure, and his passing and ballhandling are potentially above average in the NBA as well. He's going to be good, I think, even if he gets worked a little on the defensive end.

Star, though? Seems unlikely. If he ever makes a single All-Star team I'd be VERY surprised.

[El Chivo]

He can be a great team player and a sniper. Not a star at all.

[vege]

At the end of last season when he got minutes he was great. Then he had injuries and he was absolutely garbage this season, seems like he is back to where he was at the end of last season which is great. If he can give us anywhere from 15-20 points per game on good efficiency and not be a complete liability on defense that'd great.

[DetroitSho]

I think this is also overblown. He took more shots and scored more on a per minute basis than Bullock. He's just playing more now, and is able to take a couple shots without getting yanked immediately if he misses.

Saw the same exact thing last year when Van Gundy let the reigns off.

Is he more confident and willing to pull the trigger quicker now in some cases? Sure, but you can't take the heat-check shots he was taking last night if you're worried about getting yanked if you miss.

There's also the little matter of him being healthy now compared to earlier in the year.

Bruh he was passing up wide open kick outs and pull ups, which normally led to either a much worse shot or turnover. That happened quite a bit. Nobody was advocating for him to go full "Langston" but what he fasho needed to stop doing was going full "pump fake Ilyasova". Even now, he's much more aggressive than before and still ain't the gunner Langston is.

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Again this is a misnomer. Luke takes more shots per minute than Galloway does.

Langston just takes bad shots, where Luke has good shot selection and isn't going to force it unless he's really feeling it. He's not passing up tons of wide open shots, and he uses that pump fake to get open looks CONSTANTLY. You can't just look at every time it doesn't work out and say it's dumb, while ignoring all of the times it does.

This to me is a prime example of the theory that people will debate ANYTHING. There's no denying he turned down open shots earlier in the season. It's literally the reason he wasn't playing as much.

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[rmfc]

Future star?

If he can give us anywhere from 15-20 points per game on good efficiency and not be a complete liability on defense that'd great.

Yep.