SJScouting

Effective Field Goal percentage: Kennard’s EFG% is so impressive that it needed its own category. His EFG% is 69.1% so far this season. EFG% is almost always a “big men” category. Meaning when an EFG% is this high, it is usually rim-running centers who only take shots right at the basket. For example, Deandre Jordan’s EFG% for his career is 67.4% - an elite rim runner who is a former all-star and NBA champion is still below Kennard despite most of his attempts coming right at the rim. This season, Kennard is 10th in the NBA this season in EFG% (minimum 10 games played) only behind guys like Jaxson Hayes, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Rudy Gobert, and other rim running centers. One of the most mind-blowing statistics in all of the NBA this season. Final Thoughts: Luke Kennard is currently on a 1-year contract, so the Lakers will need to re-sign the sharpshooter if they want him to stay with the squad. However, Austin Reaves likely declining his player option for the upcoming season he will likely become a free agent. His contract will likely be one right under a “max-deal” so the Lakers front office will have an intriguing case of figuring out how to bring Kennard back for the long-term. 4/4

Kennard Fitting in with the Lakers: To put it simply, Kennard fits perfectly into the needs of the Lakers. On paper he has checked the boxes, but he has certainly passed the eye test as well. With teams often double-teaming Doncic, Reaves, and Lebron, it leaves Kennard wide open for three. Defenses in general focus on the “big three” so much that they fall asleep on Kennard leading to open catch-and-shoot opportunities. Specifically, when teams double the “big three” and they pass it to the big man in the short roll, it leaves Kennard wide open for corner catch-and-shoot opportunities. This formula is highly successful for the Lakers, as Kennard is shooting 49.5% on catch-and-shoot threes this season, including 73.8% EFG% in those same situations. Another way that Kennard plays off the “big three” is as an off-ball screener. He frequently sets off-ball screens for the Lakers’ stars, which often leads to Kennard’s defender helping on one of the three. This allows Kennard to then go pop out himself for a catch, as teams are so worried about others that he gets a large amount of open attempts. Even when a defender is able to close out on Kennard, he often uses a pump fake to allow the defender to fly by, and will subsequently dribble once to reset. Following the rest Kennard still shoots the ball at a high percentage, as he is shooting 43.8% on off-the-dribble attempts from behind the arc. When teams decide to focus on Kennard instead of double-teaming Lebron, Doncic, and Reaves, they are able to take advantage quite frequently in one-on-one matchups. In particular, the addition of Kennard has allowed Doncic to have his highest scoring month of the season (36.5 ppg), minus the three games he played in the month of October. When Doncic sees a one-on-one matchup he becomes ultra-aggressive, as he is taking an absurd 25.7 field goal attempts per game this month. 3/4

Last month’s NBA trade deadline included multiple all-star trades. James Harden, Darius Garland, Jaron Jackson Jr., Anthony Davis, and other elite players found new homes. The award for most underrated trade of the season has to go to the Los Angeles Lakers, as they sent Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in return for THE most underrated pickup of the season, Luke Kennard. The 29 year-old, 2017 first round pick has had an up-and-down NBA career so far, as he has been a part of good teams, bad teams, and averaged double digit points per game in four different seasons with none of them being back-to-back. No matter what Kennard’s role is there is one constant with his play - he is going to shoot the basketball at an elite percentage. He has brought that elite shooting to the Lakers, which has not only improved their overall shooting ability, especially from behind the arc, but introduced new layers to the offensive abilities of the championship hopefuls. Kennard's Lakers stats through 22 games played: 8.5 ppg / 1.9 apg / 2.2 rpg / 21.7 mpg Kennard's Lakers shooting splits: 55.1 FG% / 44.3 3P% / 93.8 FT% 1/4

Final thoughts: It is not surprising that Cody Williams is great in transition due to his elite athleticism and length. However, his ability to cut and shoot the midrange at an efficient clip is highly impressive. His jump shot is a work in progress, as he shot only 30% from three point range this month and 24% for the season as a whole. However, the efficiency from midrange while taking many difficult shots should be a sign that his three point jumper will develop in due time. Williams is just 21 years old, and has time to develop into a good rotation piece for the Jazz. In the meantime, he has a chance for the rest of this season, because of an injury-riddled roster, to prove he belongs in this league. 5/5

Midrange: The most underrated aspect of Williams’ offensive game is his midrange abilities. The average NBA player shoots around 40% from the midrange, while Williams this month is shooting 59%. With this almost 20% difference it would be fair to assume to Williams takes a high frequency of wide open attempts from this area, however that is not the case. Many of Williams’ successful midrange attempts this month come from self-creation plays either by using a screen or in isolation. Additionally, he had a couple of makes off of short rolls after setting a screen, so he gets to his comfortable spots in the midrange in a variety of ways. Similar to his play in transition, Williams does not have an advanced ball-handling ability, so he uses his size and quickness to blow by defenders, bump defenders off of him, and shoot over defenders. 4/5

Transition: The tall, lengthy Williams has great athleticism, and frequently displays it in transition. As soon as a teammate grabs a rebound or gets a steal, he is off to the races. He capitalizes in transition in a variety of ways. Firstly, he is elite at catching alley-oops, as he can catch them from a variety of angles and has the vertical leap to adjust mid-air if necessary. Sticking with the theme of athleticism, Williams frequently blows by transition defenders to get to the basket. He may use an occasional eurostep or low pickup move, but typically with the ball in his hands he will use his speed to get to the rim and his length to get the finish off. 20% of his shot attempts in the month of March came in transition, where he scores efficiently. The average NBA player scores around 1.2 points per possession (PPP) in transition - Williams scores 1.36 PPP in those same opportunities in March so far. The repeated transition opportunities for Williams allows for some easy baskets, which in turn helps him as a whole offensively, as players are able to get into a "rhythm" through easy baskets. These increased chances have possibly played a part in his improved half-court shooting percentage. 2/5

This Jazz season has been filled with plenty of ups and downs. Great things occurred such as Keyonte George’s breakout, Collier’s continued development, and of course upgrading their roster through midseason trades to acquire Jaren Jackson Jr. along with other solid rotational pieces. However, recently the Jazz have been dropping like flies. JJJ, Markannen, George, and more all have missed significant time as of late or are out for the rest of the season. This has allowed for one more positive to occur - the development of Cody Williams, as he is playing in a career high 33 minutes per game in the month of March. The 6’ 8” forward did not have an ideal rookie season, especially given the expectations that top 10 picks generally have. Williams shot just 32% from the field, and besides some displays of his elite athleticism, did not have many moments that stood out. The Colorado product is only 21 years old but is having a breakout month of March, including a 34 point, 7 assist, and 7 rebound performance against the Sacramento Kings. From 32% to a 34 point performance in just a year’s difference; it appears from an outside perspective that Williams’ has put the time in to improve in many aspects of his game. He still has room to improve, but certain aspects of his game have become much more polished, such as his play in transition, his cutting, and an underrated midrange game, all of which have been shown in March so far. March 2026 Statline - 14.1 PPG / 5 RPG / 4.4 APG / 0.9 SPG / 33.5 MPG Shooting Splits - 51.9 FG% / 30.4 3P% / 82.8 FT% 1/5

Final thoughts: Ty Jerome has been able to play with the freedom he has never had the opportunity to play with in the NBA, and he is putting up a highly efficient statline. He does this in unique ways with his unorthodox skillset, which I believe is helpful for why he is so effective. I would not be surprised if Jerome was moved in the offseason, as he is in the first year of arguably one of the best contracts in the NBA, a three-year, 27 million dollar deal. Regardless of where he plays, Jerome should be a name that more casual NBA fans will look out for in the coming seasons. 4/4

Drop Coverage and Hunting Switches: Ty Jerome does not succumb to the typical three point shot diet, as he usually attempts these shots in two ways: against drop coverage or in isolation against big-men when they switch onto him. When Ty Jerome spots drop coverage, it is safe to assume that he will be shooting a three pointer. He won’t even bother using fakes or putting a defender on his back, as he will dribble quickly to the three point line and hoist a slightly contested three over the big-man in drop coverage. If he is unable to get by his defender, he regularly uses a rescreen to try again. Numerous of his threes came by this situation, helping him to his 41% from three in his first 8 games. If the player in drop coverage takes a step up towards the three point line, instead of using a secondary move to go by this defender, he will pull the ball out and waive away the player who had set the screen. These scenarios often lead to step back threes, as he has taken 13 step backs within his first 100 field goal attempts, with many of these occurring against a “mismatch.” However, this is not considered a “settle” shot for Jerome, as he hunts these step backs against switches all the time. 3/4

The Memphis Grizzlies are in a difficult predicament. They are more than a few games back of a play-in spot, yet will likely not receive a first round draft position of much value. However, this season has provided a few bright spots. Their young talent, ones they both drafted and traded for this season, have received playing time that will aid in their development. GG Jackson, Walter Clayton Jr., Taylor Hendricks, Cedric Coward, and Cam Spencer are just a few of these examples. Another bright spot for this young Memphis squad is the improved play of their 28 year old point guard, Ty Jerome. After being sidelined for over three months with a high grade calf strain, the veteran guard has not missed a beat in his first 8 games with his new team. First 8 games - 19.6 ppg / 5.6 apg / 2.8 rpg / 1.4 spg / 21 mpg Shooting splits - 51.5 FG% / 41.2 3P% / 86.5 FT% The 6’5”, 195 pound Jerome is not an elite athlete. However, he takes advantage of every edge he can get, and takes difficult shots to make up for the lack of athleticism. Despite the high frequency of difficult shots such as step backs, deep threes, and fadeaways he is still shooting with ELITE efficiency. Additionally, his best trait so far this season has been an aspect of the game usually reserved for the “freak athletes”, that being transition offense. 1/4

Final thoughts: In the month of February Nolan Traore has shown flashes of becoming a really good offensive threat. His ability to capitalize in transition, get downhill, and shoot efficiently in C&S scenarios has shined. WIth an increase in muscle this offseason, he will be able to finish better in the paint without solely relying on his speed. Excited to see the Frenchman continue to flourish! (4/4)

C&S ability: An efficient three-point shot has emerged for Traore this month. Shooting almost 44% in C&S situations in February, his quick release has been displayed in the month. He relocates well after an offensive rebound, which has led to numerous kick-out threes for him this month. Additionally, when he is off-ball in transition he uses his speed to sprint to the corners for C&S opportunities. His confidence from three has improved, as he was not seen as a volume three point shooter pre-draft, but is attempting 3.5 three-pointers per game in February - a strong sign for the continued growth of the rookie. He has yet to become a volume shooter off the bounce, but his strong ability to C&S should translate to at least a decent jumper off the dribble. (3/4)

Every few years a new player emerges as the “fastest player in the league.” From Derrick Rose to John Wall to De’Aaron Fox, these speedy guards used/use their unique speed and quickness to become great NBA players. I believe the time is now to dub the next fastest player in the NBA, and his name is Nolan Traore. While it will be quite a difficult feat to become the caliber of player that Rose, Wall, and Fox were, the Frenchman certainly has the ability to become a dynamic offensive threat. Standing at 6’3”, the Brooklyn Nets 19 year old rookie had a slow start to the season, including some DNPs and G-League appearances. However, in the month of February Traore has turned it up a notch. February stats: 13.5 ppg / 6.3 apg / 2.8 rpg / 28 mpg 51.7 FG% / 42.9 3P% / 71 FT% Transition: Nolan Traore’s strongest trait is his ability to push the pace in transition. His teammates often look for him after turnovers and rebounds to create opportunities in transition. Traore is great at pushing the ball out in front of him, where he can then use an array of crossovers, spin moves, or blow-bys to glide past a defender running back in transition. Additionally, at only 185 pounds Troare is extremely physical, especially in transition drives to the basket where he excels at bumping his defender off-line. As most smaller guards do in the NBA he will likely gain some muscle, which will only improve this skill. Traore also creates “transition opportunities” out of half-court situations, as he frequently catches defenders off-guard by blowing by them with his elite speed as they are still setting up their defense, even after a made-basket. (1/4)

When we think of this season’s rookie sensations we may think of Cooper Flagg, Kon Kneuppel, VJ Edgecombe, and Derik Queen. These rookies are having high quality seasons so far, however there is one additional rookie that has begun to insert his name into the top rookie ranks - Will Riley. The 19 year-old Washington Wizards’ rookie is only averaging 6.2 ppg on 40% from the field and 34% from three-point land, with the rest of his season averages being nothing special. However, recently something has clicked for Riley. In his last six games, the 6’9”, 180 pound shooting guard has been sensational. Last 6 games averages: 17.3 ppg / 4 rpg / 3.2 apg / 1.8 spg / 45.2 fg% / 45.7 3p% / 29 mpg Aggressiveness and creativity: Will Riley’s aggressiveness has ticked up a couple notches. Statistically, his least amount of field goals attempted in the stretch was 10 attempts, including a 19 field goal attempt game. This is substantial compared to his season average of 6 field goals attempted per game. Additionally, he has passed the “eye test” in terms of his aggressiveness, as he has taken more off-the-dribble shots than any other stretch this season. Riley does not simply attack with reckless abandonment, as he has shown relaxed creativity in moments during these 6 games. Riley is strong off the catch. He rarely dribbles “just because” and is always a threat. Jabs, fakes, hip-to-hips are often seen when Riley attacks the paint off the catch. When he gets inside the three-point line, he uses an array of spin moves to slice his way through the defense. Double spin moves, step-throughs, stepbacks, and putting defenders in jail can be frequently seen from Riley. Necessary Adjustments: Riley has been shooting the lights out when focusing on just three-pointers and layups. In the floater/midrange area, he shot just 35% during this stretch. Of course that number will gradually improve over the course of his career, but as many young rookies do, Riley’s touch still needs improvement. Multiple possessions could have ended with one or two more dribbles towards the basket with a layup attempt in mind, instead of stalling out further away and taking a statistically lower percentage attempt. This improvement may also take shape in his growing physical nature, as the 19 year-old is listed at only 180 pounds according to ESPN. With some weight gain, he should be able to handle contact in the paint better, which will grow his confidence to take the extra dribbles towards the basket instead of settling. I believe Riley can and will improve in this area, as the rookie boasted a 32 inch vertical at the NBA combine last year while standing at 6 '9". He is not for lack of athleticism and length. Behind the arc: Riley’s near 46% from three in the last 6 games would rank top 5 in the league for the whole season. What is most appealing about Riley, in my opinion, is his ability to shoot a high percentage in C&S and off-the-dribbble from behind the arc. During this stretch, he shot 38% on C&S threes and a staggering 57% on threes when he puts the ball on the floor. His ability to use screens going both ways, reject screens, and come off of DHOs at his size helps him have the ability to hit these supposedly difficult shots. Additionally, his screen navigation skills allow him to get off-the-dribble looks that are relatively open. As previously mentioned, his quick spin move is something he often goes to in these situations. Final thoughts: Will Riley’s last 6 games have shown us a glimpse into the star he could potentially become. Will he shoot 46% from three for the rest of his career? That may be unlikely. However, he has shown that he isn’t just a catch and shoot threat, but has real creation skills that have blossomed with his added aggressiveness. With Anthony Davis and Trae Young leading the way for the Wizards next year, amidst the other great young players they have, Riley’s opportunity to self-create may not be very frequent. His ability to catch and shoot from beyond the arc will be a key factor into how successful his career plays out. Excited to see Will Riley continue to develop!

From 3.3 ppg in his lone year at UCLA to scoring 29 points against the top ranked defense in the NBA, Peyton Watson has come a long way. The former McDonald’s All-American has shown flashes at times in his NBA career so far, but the month of January brought about a level that many may not have expected. With Jokic getting injured in late December, Watson clearly saw the next month as an opportunity to showcase his abilities. January 2026 statline - 21.9 ppg / 5.5 rpg / 3 apg / 2.5 stocks pg Shooting splits - 49% / 46% / 71% A career 36% from three, including 42% this season, he shot the best he has so far in his career in January. If he continues this hot streak 46% from three would rank top 5 in the NBA for the 2025-26 season. Catch and Shoot: 58 FGA / 46.6% In 58 C&S situations, he shot an absurd 46.6% including a staggering 52.4% on C&S corner threes. Despite the defense not being quite as drawn in without the three-time MVP, Watson’s ability to shoot off the catch was impressive. Whether it was late shot clock, contested, or coming off a previous miss, he showed no hesitation taking corner threes. In fact, the difficulty of shots Watson took from this area was arguably higher due to increased attention on him. Mid-Range Area 79 FGA / 30.4% Despite his stellar month, Watson’s mid-range shot diet is a work in progress. The execution comes down to two separate types of mid-range. Most of his mid-range success came from C&S scenarios, where he can often be found around the nail or elbow areas. However, many misses came from contested looks including ones off multiple dribbles, late-clock, or settling in general. This is something he will surely improve on, as he never had the responsibility of self-creation to the extent he did in January. Additionally, he had numerous open misses coming from efficient spin moves and pivots, so the potential is there. Finishing (around the rim and floaters) 99 FGA / 52.5% Watson shot 56.7% on layups/dunks, largely due to his elite athleticism in transition and his cutting ability. Teammates often look for him after a defensive stop, as he has the ability to play above the rim and self-create. His diet of finishes in these situations often comes from a slow-step or euro-step, with only a small amount of chest-to-chest finishes. So in that regard he could improve. Variability in Actions: Another strong aspect of Watson’s game that he utilized in January was his ability to be used in various actions in different places. In the month he had many possessions as a pick-and-roll handler, screen setter, using a DHO, giving the DHO, and in particular his ability to come off a Pistol action was strong, as he is quick to get downhill with space or pop back for a center three, where he shot around 40%. Final thoughts: With Jokic back soon, he’ll take a few less field goals per game. However, he will likely have more C&S and cutting opportunities because of the Joker. Watson shows potential as secondary ball-handler/scorer for a playoff level team, and I am excited to see the 23 year-old continue his development.