The Detroit Pistons likely will not have a first round pick in the upcoming NBA draft. The team is also a long shot to make the playoffs after consecutively disappointing seasons. Then there’s the fact that the Pistons have routinely missed out on top players in the draft such as Devin Booker and Donovan Mitchell. However, the play of Luke Kennard in recent games has to provide the fan base with hope.
The Detroit Pistons got off to a hot start to the 2017-18 season. Then Reggie Jackson went down, for the second time in as many seasons.
It was just another disappointment in a string of disappointing events, such as picking Stanley Johnson over the flourishing Devin Booker, or selecting the sharp shooting Luke Kennard, over perhaps the next NBA superstar in Donovan Mitchell.
Then there was the high of the Blake Griffin trade, which was quickly stymied but an abysmal losing streak that all but certainly knocked the Pistons out of the playoffs.
Disappointment after disappointment.
Fortunately, the Pistons have clawed their way back into a possible playoff birth, albeit still unlikely.
That’s been exciting, particularly since the Pistons will likely be without its first round pick in this year’s NBA draft.
Even more exciting has been the play of Pistons’ rookie Luke Kennard who has been stellar in his last six games.
Prior to last night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Kennard has been averaging 13 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.0 steals with 1.6 three pointers made per game. During these five games, he’s shot over 50% from the floor four times, and at least 50% from behind the arc three times.
Against the Lakers, in limited minutes, Kennard showed his versatility hitting an array of shots, including pull up jumpers, floaters in the lane, and knocking down open three pointers. If given the proper minutes, he looked like he would have easily reached double figures once more.
While Kennard isn’t tearing the league a part like Mitchell, his play has helped elevate the Pistons back into the playoff hunt, and what he’s shown is that he’s capable of being a very good NBA player.
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It remains to be seen what sort of player Kennard will morph into, but he appears to possess all of the tools to be a strong asset for the Pistons moving forward.