May 31, 2026

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Lakers fans declare Luke Kennard a massive upgrade after impactful debut

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The LA Lakers were linked with a host of players before the trade deadline and eventually acquired Luke Kennard in a deal that sent Gabe Vincent to Atlanta. Kennard made his debut for Los Angeles against the Warriors on Saturday and impressed, with fans declaring him a massive upgrade.

The guard came off the bench as the Lakers recorded a 105-99 win and had an impressive 26-minute cameo, earning praise from the purple and gold faithful.

“Luke Kennard is already being more impactful than Gabe in just 10 mins. Win trade Lakers,” a fan wrote.

The reaction summed up the mood among Lakers fans, many of whom saw Kennard as an ideal fit and an immediate upgrade for the rotation.

Kennard giving us the role that we’ve been desperately needing from Dalton. He closes in his first game bc JJ saw how the threat of him opened up the floor. Biggest takeaway from tonight was not the shooting but the effort on defense and playmaking.

@GuruLakers All these seasons I never realized he can actually dribble the ball 💀💀💀💀 This mf is unlocking another level for this team

@GuruLakers Luke has done more to help Lakers win in his first game than Gabe Vincent all season

Kennard’s early performances also shifted fans’ views on Dalton Knecht’s role, with several calling for him to be traded or even waived from the roster.

@GuruLakers Now we can really safe to say waive DK!

@GuruLakers Bruh Knetch barley plays , play this man

The Lakers have struggled to make shots this season, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves remaining the most consistent scorers. However, Kennard has provided the Lakers with another great option off the bench.

The guard is shooting 53.9% from the field this season and is converting nearly half of his three-point attempts at an elite 49.7% clip. In his first game as a Laker, Kennard went 57.1% from the floor and 50.0% from beyond the arc, finishing with 10 points and a +4 plus-minus in his minutes on the court.

This return is exactly what the Lakers have been missing as they have struggled to close games this season. With Kennard in the mix, they appear to have found a key piece for late-game situations, as the guard has made a strong early impression in Los Angeles.

Luke Kennard reflects on an impressive Lakers debut

Luke Kennard made his debut for the Lakers against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, impressing with his stellar shooting performance.

After the game, Kennard discussed his first outing at Crypto.com Arena and reflected on the opportunity to play for the Lakers.

“I mean, it’s huge to play at a place like this,” Kennard said (Timestamp: 0:09). “It’s the biggest stage in basketball, it’s something special, and I think for me, the expectation was obviously to get a win. That’s the biggest thing at the end of the day.”

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Kennard has made a positive impression on his debut and will look to continue this performance in the coming days as the Lakers look to reignite their playoff push in the second half of the season.