Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) loses the ball against Los Angeles Lakers guard Luke Kennard (10) and forward LeBron James (23) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

'Two cerebral basketball players': Lakers' LeBron James addresses connection with Luke Kennard

By Yagya Bhargava | Last updated Apr 11, 2026 9:32 AM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers locked down home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs Friday night with a dominant 101-73 win over the Phoenix Suns at Crypto.com Arena.

The victory also kept their push for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference alive, even as head coach JJ Redick downplayed the importance of seeding given the team's injury situation.

LeBron James credits high IQ for Luke Kennard chemistry

The real story centered on the connection between LeBron James and Luke Kennard, a pairing that continues to develop as the Lakers navigate through roster limitations.

After the game, James pointed to basketball IQ as the foundation for their chemistry, per ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin.

"Two cerebral basketball players," James said. "That's why it's seamless. He's smart as hell. I'm smart as hell at this game and for us to be able to adjust like we've been playing for a while as teammates, but that's just the knowledge of the game."

“Two cerebral basketball players. That's why it's seamless. He's smart as hell. I'm smart as hell at this game. ... It does seem like we've been playing for a while as teammates, but that’s just the knowledge of the game” - LeBron James on his instant chemistry with Luke Kennard pic.twitter.com/VAEJhFqR8e
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 11, 2026

Lakers clinch first-round home-court advantage

James put together another strong performance with 28 points, 12 assists, six rebounds, and four steals across 32 minutes. Kennard chipped in 19 points and three assists, while Rui Hachimura added 13 points.

Deandre Ayton finished with 10 points and five rebounds. Marcus Smart made his return after missing time since March 21, posting six points, seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals.

That high-IQ chemistry showed up against Phoenix, especially during stretches where the Lakers needed to stay composed. The team dealt with injuries all season, forcing roles to shift throughout the roster.

Kennard came in as a floor-spacer but took on more responsibility as a secondary creator and playmaker. Despite the added workload, his shooting remained consistent.

Since joining Los Angeles, Kennard shot 44.8% from three-point range, proving he can handle the expanded role without losing his primary skill.

Yagya Bhargava

Yagya Bhargava began his professional journey as a chef, but his passion for sports eventually led him into sports journalism. He started writing in 2022 and has since published more than 5,000 articles covering the NFL and NBA. Along the way, he’s worked with outlets like The Cold Wire, Sportskeeda, The SportsRush, and The Big Lead

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