Los Angeles — Veteran guard Luke Kennard said the Los Angeles Lakers’ ability to stay together after late-season injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves was the driving force behind the club’s 2026 playoff performance.
Speaking after the Lakers were eliminated in the Western Conference semifinals, Kennard noted that the roster could have unraveled when both starters went down near the end of the regular season. Instead, Los Angeles beat the Houston Rockets in the first round before falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“I’m proud of the group,” Kennard said. “Everybody stuck together. That first OKC game in Oklahoma City definitely turned our season. It was late in the year, so it was tough, but we found a way. We took a couple bad losses right after that, but ever since then we started playing good basketball.”
Acquired at the trade deadline, Kennard moved beyond his customary spot-up role, handling increased playmaking duties while Doncic and Reaves recovered. His contributions helped Los Angeles close out Houston and remain competitive against top-seeded Oklahoma City, despite being swept.
“Our group was really close and connected through it all,” Kennard added. “You don’t always get that in the NBA. When you go down two guys like that and you’re able to continue to lift each other up and stay together, it shows how special the group is.”
The 30-year-old enters unrestricted free agency this summer. Kennard said he feels “blessed” to have worn a Lakers uniform and does not take the experience of playing alongside LeBron James and the rest of the roster for granted, leaving open the possibility of a return.
Source: Lakers Nation
