After missing nearly three months of basketball with bilateral knee tendinitis, Luke Kennard was nearing his return. The Detroit Pistons were planning to reintroduce the shooting guard to the lineup on March 14, with a minutes restriction.
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the NBA season was suspended before Kennard could return. The Pistons were playing the Sixers in Philadelphia on March 11 when Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the virus. Kennard recalled the Pistons following the situation on social media after their game.
“That night in Philly, we kept hearing stuff right after the game that there was some rumors that somebody might’ve tested positive, and we weren’t sure,” Kennard told reporters in a conference call on Thursday. “Everybody was on their phones talking to each other. And then once we finally got the notification about the season and about the Jazz player, we were shocked, I think that’s what was going through our minds. We were surprised. And we were just in the unknown, we didn’t know what was going to happen.”
Two months later, we know that the Pistons likely won’t play another basketball game until December. But Kennard hasn’t experienced any setbacks since March 11. Senior adviser Ed Stefanski told the Detroit Free Press in April that Kennard is healthy, and that’s still the case.
Kennard said his knees are 100%. And he’s eager to play when the Pistons return to the court — whenever that may be. He hasn’t been able to test his knee in live action, as the league is still heavily regulating what teams can do during practices. Only individual voluntary workouts are allowed at this point.
The Pistons formally reopened their practice facility last week, but Kennard, who is spending the offseason in Detroit, had access to it earlier through the NBA’s suspension due to a medical waiver.
The Pistons have talked to the NBA about participating in off-season mini-camps with other teams who weren’t invited to Orlando. Count Kennard as a participant if it comes into fruition.
“Whenever that is, I’ll be there for it,” he said. “I’m anxious to play. I’m ready to get back out there and just play basketball, honestly. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to do that. I think you gotta take a stance where health is a big issue right now, honestly, with everything going on. You have to make sure everybody is safe … but if the NBA allows it and they come up with a plan, I’ll be there for it.”
Kennard was in the midst of a breakout season before his knee injury prematurely ended his season. He set career highs in points (15.8), assists (4.1), rebounds (3.5) and minutes (32.9) per game, plus free throw percentage (89.3%), while maintaining his efficiency from the floor and behind the arc.
One of his goals for next season is to improve as a passer. He increased his assist percentage from 12.4% to 18.4% last season. The Pistons challenged him to improve as a secondary playmaker, and he answered the call.
Kennard also wants to improve his shooting, especially off-the-dribble and from farther out. But his biggest goal is to stay healthy.
Kennard has yet to play more than 70 games in a season, and he was limited to just 28 last year. Even without the hiatus, he was looking at 44 games, max. He believes with his current training regime, he’ll be able to play all 82 games next season — or however many games the NBA schedules due to the pandemic. “I wouldn’t say I’m an injury-prone player,” Kennard said. “I think everybody deals with something. At the time when everything was going on, I just needed to make sure what I was doing was right for me and the team, just to make sure I was healthy. We came up with a plan, and the plan is good. It’s been working so far. We’re just going to continue to stick to that. I think I’m going to be able to go through an entire season next year. That’s my goal and what we’re doing now is preparing me for that.”
He also wants to take a step forward as a leader. Kennard is entering his fourth season and will soon be in position to sign a long-term deal with the Pistons. He’ll be eligible to sign a rookie-scale extension beginning this offseason. If that doesn’t happen, he’ll enter restricted free agency for the 2021 offseason.
The Pistons took trade calls on Kennard in February, and it remains to be seen if the organization is willing to commit to him. Kennard’s health is a big factor and could dictate how contract talks are handled.
Kennard, drafted in 2017, is the Pistons’ longest-tenured player. He’s rapidly approaching veteran status, even as he’s working to prove he can be a core piece for the franchise.
Related Story