Offseason addition Luke Kennard brings much-needed outside shooting to the Atlanta Hawks. The guard provides elite three-point shooting to an offense that struggled to take advantage of open looks last year. The Hawks ranked sixth in wide-open three-point attempts (21.8) but 22nd in conversion (38.1%). Kennard can certainly boost that number in Quin Snyder’s offense, which is predicated on volume from beyond the arc. The eight-year veteran will see some of the most open looks of his career, but Atlanta fans should expect Kennard to have a role on the ball as well.
Projecting Luke Kennard’s 2025-26 Role With Hawks
Balancing Playmaking and Off-Ball 3-Point Shooting
Kennard came into the league with the Detroit Pistons as a three-point specialist and immediately became one of the best shooters in the league. The former Duke product has only shot below 41% from deep twice in his career. Kennard is one of three players with 100 made three-pointers on 40% efficiency in the past three seasons. In fact, he sits third on the NBA’s all-time three-point percentage list.
However, in two and a half seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, Kennard developed his ball-handling and playmaking skills. He operated as a point guard when Ja Morant and Scotty Pippen Jr. were off the floor. He flashed improved handling, patience, and the ability to make advanced reads out of pick-and-rolls.
Luke Kennard is coming off the best playmaking season of his career
Inventive passer who uses the the threat of his shooting to blow past closeouts and get his guys open, really good at finding cutters off a live dribble
3.3 potential assists per 1-min on-ball (90th%) pic.twitter.com/QO9lzqmKsd
— #InSnyderWeTrust (@dlee4three) July 1, 2025
Atlanta has the necessary passers to find the sharpshooter easy looks from deep. Trae Young, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, Kristaps Porziņģis/Onyeka Okongwu, and Vít Krejčí all have above-average passing skills for their positions. Kennard’s willingness to move without the rock and find space will earn him open looks in Syder’s motion offense. When the Hawks’ four-time All-Star is on the floor, Kennard likely slots into his natural role off the ball. Bogdan Bogdanović excelled in a similar position before being traded last season. In 2023-24, he delivered a career year, averaging 16.9 points while taking 8.1 threes per game. While Kennard will see fewer minutes, expect his three-point volume to increase in Atlanta compared to his last season in Memphis.
Kennard’s Role When Young’s On the Bench
Surprisingly, the 29-year-old only averaged 4.0 three-point attempts per game in 2024-25 after 6.1 and 5.7 in the two seasons prior. Grizzlies reporter Damichael Cole wrote, “Shooting was Kennard’s biggest strength, and at times, he wasn’t doing enough in that area.” His increased role on the ball may have affected his three-point volume. However, when healthy, the Grizzlies needed Kennard’s volume from downtown more than his initiating, especially when Desmond Bane headed to the bench.
The Hawks certainly need the former 12th overall pick’s outside marksmanship, but they likely need his on-ball skills more than the Grizzlies did last season. In the past, Memphis has had great backup point guards when Morant sits, including Tyus Jones, Ty Jerome, and Pippen. Atlanta has not had the same experience.
Nothing new here, but I looked it up after the offense collapsed last night.
Simply put, the Hawks (still) can’t score with Trae Young on the bench.
101.7 offensive rating in 824 minutes without Young this season.
(Context: That would be dead-last in the NBA by 4 points) https://t.co/XecZqw7dwh
— Brad Rowland (@BTRowland) February 21, 2025
They struggle to generate consistent quality looks in the halfcourt without Young, but Kennard could operate as a backup point guard option. Kobe Bufkin only has 27 NBA games under his belt, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker is more of an off-ball perimeter player. If Kennard earns this role, he might be in store for more minutes than anticipated.
Hawks fans should keep a close eye on Kennard in the preseason when they begin playing on October 6. It could paint a clearer picture of how Snyder plans to balance his lethal outside shooting with playmaking off the bench.
Featured image: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
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