MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Luke Kennard stepped onto the mound at AutoZone Park on Saturday evening, reminiscing about his childhood days playing baseball. After a brief moment of reflection, he threw a right-handed slider across the plate.
Kennard, who played baseball as a kid, hadn't thrown a ball in some time, so he got a few practice throws in before delivering the ceremonial first pitch.
"I surprised myself a little bit, not gonna lie," Kennard said. "But no, it was good. It was good. I think it was a strike. So anything over the plate, I’ll live with."
Kennard was the highlight of Grizzlies Day at the Redbirds game. Fans lined up hours before the gates opened for a chance to meet the Grizzlies sharpshooter and get his autograph.
The shooting guard happily signed hats, jerseys, and posters before heading down to the field.
While the Memphis Redbirds' season concludes today, Kennard's seventh season in the NBA will begin Oct. 1 when the Grizzlies open training camp in Nashville.
Kennard, who recently became a father, has spent much of the summer in Memphis along with many of his teammates.
"A lot of people are in town right now," Kennard said. "We’ve been working out, seeing each other, being around each other, spending a lot of days together. Everybody’s itching to get back out there. It’s going to be a great year. We’re looking forward to it. Everybody’s pushing each other hard. It’s going to be fun."
After a season filled with injuries, Memphis has retooled for the upcoming year. Ja Morant has been cleared for all basketball activities, and the Grizzlies boast a talented draft class, including Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells, and Cam Spencer.
Edey, in particular, has generated buzz, and Kennard said the rookie has impressed his teammates.
"Big Zach has surprised a lot of people," Kennard said. "We’re looking forward to seeing what he can do and how he can help us this year."
Kennard is also excited to play alongside fellow sharpshooters Spencer and Wells.
"All of those young guys are really good shooters, high IQ players, and it’s going to be fun to have them on the team," he said.
The Grizzlies have been holding five-on-five workouts, and Kennard highlighted the competitive atmosphere.
"Everybody’s coming in with the right mentality," he said. "We haven’t even started training camp, and the competitiveness and drive of just talking to one another about how we want to approach this season is something I haven’t really seen before. We’re pushing each other and competing really hard, and I think that’s going to go a long way."
The 2024-25 season marks Kennard’s seventh year in the NBA and his second full season with Memphis. He said he's focused on maintaining his role as a knockdown shooter and creating space on the floor.
The Grizzlies have also added six new assistant coaches for the upcoming season. Kennard said the staff is integrating "some new stuff" that he’s "figuring out how to play through."
The Grizzlies will begin preseason play in Dallas on Oct. 7.