Luke Kennard Joins Lakers, Reunites with LeBron James

The sharpshooter makes his Lakers debut after being traded from the Hawks at the deadline.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Luke Kennard, a former high school basketball star who once broke LeBron James' Ohio scoring record, has joined the Los Angeles Lakers in a trade deadline deal. Kennard made his Lakers debut in a win over the Golden State Warriors, scoring 10 points off the bench and hitting two 3-pointers. The 29-year-old guard/forward is reunited with James, who he played for on an AAU team as a teenager. Kennard's elite 3-point shooting is expected to provide a boost to the Lakers as they make a playoff push.

Why it matters

Kennard's addition to the Lakers could be a game-changer for the team as they look to improve their playoff positioning in the Western Conference. His ability to space the floor and knock down 3-pointers at a high rate will complement LeBron James and the Lakers' other scoring threats. The reunion between Kennard and James also adds an interesting personal storyline to the veteran's arrival in Los Angeles.

The details

In his Lakers debut, Kennard scored 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range. He helped spark a fourth-quarter rally that put the game out of reach for the Warriors. Kennard is known for his elite 3-point shooting, having converted a league-high 49.7% of his attempts this season. The Lakers are hoping he can provide a consistent perimeter threat to complement their other offensive weapons.

  • On February 6, 2015, Kennard scored 44 points in a high school game, surpassing LeBron James on the all-time Ohio high school scoring list.
  • Kennard made his Lakers debut on Saturday, February 8, 2026, in a 105-99 win over the Golden State Warriors.

The players

Luke Kennard

A 29-year-old guard/forward who was recently traded to the Los Angeles Lakers from the Atlanta Hawks. Kennard is known for his elite 3-point shooting and previously played for LeBron James on an AAU team as a teenager.

LeBron James

A veteran NBA superstar and four-time champion who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. James previously had his Ohio high school scoring record broken by Kennard.

Rob Pelinka

The general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers, who acquired Kennard at the trade deadline to bolster the team's shooting and playoff hopes.

JJ Redick

The head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, who has encouraged Kennard to be aggressive and shoot the ball since joining the team.

Austin Reaves

A Lakers teammate of Kennard's who was impressed to learn that Kennard had once outscored LeBron James in a high school game.

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What they’re saying

“He's good. He's one of my kids. That's great. I'm happy for him.”

— LeBron James (ESPN)

“When you get to add the best shooter in the game to your group at the deadline, it's a great opportunity. So, we seized it.”

— Rob Pelinka, Lakers General Manager (The Tribune)

“He probably watched it. Not all players would, but he probably did.”

— JJ Redick, Lakers Head Coach (The Tribune)

“That's crazy. I didn't know that. That's a lot of buckets.”

— Austin Reaves, Lakers Teammate (The Tribune)

What’s next

The Lakers will face the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder at home on Monday, February 10, 2026, as they continue their push for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The takeaway

Kennard's addition to the Lakers could provide a much-needed boost to their offense and 3-point shooting, potentially helping the team make a deep playoff run. His reunion with LeBron James adds an intriguing personal storyline, as the two have a history dating back to Kennard's high school days when he broke James' scoring record in Ohio.