Who is Luke Kennard‘s Father? A Closer Look at the NBA Sharpshooter‘s Background and Career

Luke Kennard, the sweet-shooting guard for the Los Angeles Clippers, comes from an athletic family background. His father, Obie Kennard, was a standout college basketball player who went on to play professionally in Europe. Let‘s take an in-depth look at Luke Kennard‘s family ties and his journey from Ohio phenom to becoming one of the NBA‘s most lethal snipers.

Luke‘s Father Obie Kennard – A Basketball Lifer

Luke Kennard grew up in basketball-crazed Franklin, Ohio, where the game was embedded in his DNA from an early age thanks in large part to his dad. Obie Kennard, Luke‘s father, was a hoops standout in his own right as a 6‘5" shooting guard for the University of Cincinnati from 1986 to 1989.

Obie was a four-year starter for the Bearcats, leading the team in scoring as a junior at 14.6 points per game. He earned team MVP honors in 1989 by carrying Cincinnati‘s offense with his smooth jumper and crafty scoring ability.

After a distinguished college career, Obie went on to play professional basketball across Europe. He competed in the top leagues of England, Germany, Holland, and France over a five year span until 1994.

These days, you can still find Obie Kennard on the hardwood coaching youth players at his local YMCA when he‘s not working as a financial planner back home in Ohio. Basketball continues to be his lifelong passion which he passed on to his talented son Luke.

As Luke put it: "Having a dad who played at a high level has been the best resource for me. He understands the game so well and is always pushing me to get better."

Luke‘s Siblings Are Standout Athletes Too

Growing up as the youngest of four athletic siblings, Luke Kennard was surrounded by sports and competition from an early age. This environment no doubt fueled his development into a top-tier athlete.

Luke‘s brother Justin Kennard currently plays professional baseball as an outfielder in the Seattle Mariners organization. Justin was drafted in the 5th round out of Duke University in 2016. He is now rising through the Mariners‘ minor league system.

His brother Kendrick Kennard was a four-year basketball player at Butler University, graduating in 2022. He prepped at Franklin High School with Luke, their team reaching the Ohio state finals in 2013.

Luke‘s sister Katelyn Kennard also attended Butler, graduating in 2020 as a member of the women‘s basketball team. She now works as an assistant coach at the University of Indianapolis and trains young players.

According to Luke, having three older siblings who played sports made everything a competition:

“We were always competing growing up. Who could score the most points? Make the most threes? Win the most games? But at the end of the day, we were always rooting each other on.”

Their family support proved invaluable in shaping Luke into the elite basketball talent he is today.

Dominating Ohio High School Basketball

By the time Luke Kennard arrived at Franklin High School in Franklin, Ohio, expectations were sky-high thanks to his bloodline. Kennard quickly exceeded them by developing into one of the most prolific prep scorers in Ohio basketball history.

Some key stats and accolades from Luke Kennard‘s sensational high school career:

• Scored 2,977 career points, 5th All-Time in Ohio HS history
• Averaged 32.6 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 5.2 APG, 3.7 SPG in senior season
• Named Ohio Mr. Basketball in 2015 over Xavier star Trevon Bluiett
• 4x First Team All-State selection (freshman to senior year)
• 3x Ohio D-I State Champion (2013, 2014, 2015)
• 2x USA Today All-USA First Team honoree (2014, 2015)

Kennard saved his most dominant season for last, averaging a staggering 32.6 points per game as a senior on efficient 43.4% 3-point shooting. He capped his prep career by leading Franklin High to a third consecutive state title in 2015.

According to Franklin head coach Brian Bales, Luke Kennard was “the most complete offensive player” he‘s ever coached. Bales praised Kennard‘s work ethic and drive to continuously improve.

By graduation, Kennard was a consensus 5-star recruit ranked as the nation‘s #9 overall prospect in the 2015 class by ESPN. He became the first ever Ohio Mr. Basketball to be named a McDonald‘s All-American.

Luke Kennard‘s NBA Career So Far

Promising Rookie Season with Detroit (2017-18)

The Detroit Pistons selected Ohio native Luke Kennard out of Duke University with the 12th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. As a rookie, he made an immediate impact as one of the league‘s top outside shooters.

• Shot 41.5% from 3PT (2nd among NBA rookies)
• Averaged 7.6 PPG in 20.0 MPG off the bench
• Scored career-high 24 pts on 8-14 FG vs. Cavs in March
• Shot 44.2% from deep after All-Star break (best among rookies)

Kennard proved he could translate his shooting stroke to the NBA level. His production earned him a spot on the 2018 NBA All-Rookie second team.

Breakout Season Cut Short by Injury (2019-20)

In his third NBA season, Luke took on a larger offensive role and averaged career highs in multiple categories before knee injuries derailed his momentum:

Season	Games	PPG	RPG	APG	MPG
2019-20	28	15.8	3.5	4.1	31.7

• Shot 39.9% from 3PT on 6.3 attempts per game
• Scored 20+ points 8 times after doing so 3x in first 2 seasons combined
• Posted back-to-back 20 point double-doubles in January
• Suffered bilateral knee tendinitis, ending season in January

According to Pistons coach Dwane Casey, Luke had developed into the team‘s "jack-of-all-trades, master of shooting" prior to going down.

Traded to the Clippers in 2020

After 3 promising seasons in Detroit, the Pistons traded Luke Kennard to the L.A. Clippers in November 2020. The move reunited Luke with his former Duke teammate Reggie Bullock as snipers off the Clippers‘ bench.

In exchange for Kennard, the Pistons received veterans Bruce Brown Jr. and Rodney McGruder to bolster their rotation. The trade also gave Detroit extra cap space.

So far, the move looks like a win-win. Brown Jr. and McGruder have brought experience to the Pistons, while Kennard‘s sharpshooting has helped the Clippers space the floor.

2021-22 Season – Providing Floor Spacing off the Bench

Luke Kennard remains a key cog in the Clippers‘ rotation when healthy. Through 11 games in 2021-22, he‘s averaged:

• 8.7 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 1.7 APG in 16.5 MPG
• 38.9% 3PT shooting on 5.7 attempts per game
• Posted 17 pts on 5-6 3PT shooting in November vs. Blazers

While his minutes are down from previous seasons, Kennard is still providing valuable floor spacing and gravity beyond the arc as an elite catch-and-shoot threat.

According to Clippers coach Ty Lue, Luke‘s conditioning has improved, allowing him to run off more screens and contribute in more ways. Lue praised Luke‘s work ethic and wants him to continue being aggressive hunting shots.

How Luke Kennard Can Take His Game to the Next Level

At just 25 years old, Luke Kennard is only beginning to tap into his potential as one of the NBA‘s most lethal snipers. Here are a few ways the sharpshooting guard can level up his game even further:

• Improve lateral quickness and foot speed: Increased agility would make Luke harder to chase off screens and more versatile defensively.

• Diversify his shot repertoire: Already dangerous spotting up, Luke can add more off-the-dribble moves like step-backs.

• Look to attack closeouts: With defenders respecting his shot so much, driving lanes open up if Luke looks to pump fake and drive.

• Get stronger finishing through contact: Adding muscle would help Luke absorb contact and convert tough layups through traffic.

• Become a weapon in transition: Running the floor hard and spotting up with space would get Luke even more open 3s in transition.

• Master mid-range game: Defenders who run Luke off the 3-point line can be punished with smooth mid-range pull ups.

With his athletic pedigree and work ethic, the sky is truly the limit for Kennard. He is already one of the NBA‘s most feared shooters at just 25 years old. Kennard projects to only keep improving his craft and diversifying his scoring arsenal.

Is Luke Kennard Among the NBA‘s Elite Shooters Already?

Despite his youth, Luke Kennard‘s shooting prowess and production from downtown already compare favorably to some of the NBA‘s greatest marksmen:

• His career 3PT% (39.9%) matches legends like Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Mullin
• Kennard shot 43.8% on catch-and-shoot 3s in 2019-20, an elite mark with high volume (183 attempts)
• Among active players, his career 3PT% ranks 9th, ahead of stars like Klay Thompson, J.J. Redick and Buddy Hield
• Converted 42.2% of pull up 3s in 2019-20, demonstrating off-the-dribble range

Additionally, Kennard‘s free throw percentage (86.5% career) illustrates his overall shooting touch and consistency.

Few players in the NBA can match Luke Kennard‘s seamless, quick release and deep shooting range already. With his Dad‘s tutelage and basketball IQ, Kennard is wise beyond his years in terms of footwork, positioning, and getting himself open.

Still only 25, Kennard projects to follow in the footsteps of shooting legends like Reggie Miller and Stephen Curry as his career progresses. For any defense, Luke Kennard on the floor provides an automatic threat from 3-point range that must be accounted for.

The Bottom Line on Luke Kennard‘s Outlook

Luke Kennard has already solidified himself as one of the NBA‘s most feared sharpshooters at just 25 years old. His athletic pedigree, fundamental shooting stroke, high IQ, and work ethic have him poised for stardom.

As Kennard continues mastering his craft under Coach Lue with the Clippers, expect him to level up into even more of a multidimensional scorer. With good health, he is capable of one day joining the pantheon of great NBA shooters.

For now, Luke is focused on helping the Clippers contend while steadily improving his game each season. No matter what jersey he wears, Kennard projects as an offensive force who will space the floor and come up clutch from downtown for years to come.