After being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 27 in the 2017 NBA draft, forward Kyle Kuzma has carved out a solid career.
He initially made a mark with his scoring ability, mostly off the bench, in his rookie season before being inserted into the starting lineup during his sophomore year.
Kuzma averaged a career-high 18.7 points per game, though on low efficiency, in his second season, but the flashes of his game were apparent.
Then he found himself polishing other areas of his game besides attempting shots, which the additions of LeBron James and Anthony Davis helped.
This past season, Kuzma primarily came off the bench but could supply production wherever needed since L.A. dealt with several injuries. He could take control of the ball to create a play, knock down catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, rebound efficiently and more.
He also improved drastically on the defensive end, using his unique frame to guard players his size or smaller opponents.
But after disappearing in the playoffs when L.A. needed him most, he was reportedly a prominent name the Lakers were seeking to trade during the early stages of the summer.
The trade came when the Lakers included him in a deal to land Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards, ending Kuzma’s time as the longest-tenured Laker.
Before he starts a new chapter in the Eastern Conference, Kuzma detailed in The Players’ Tribune how watching and playing with LeBron James helped him develop his game and learn more about his abilities:
“I know that being around LeBron has reshaped my thinking in all of these important ways. Like, just the idea of thinking about a game as being about more than the score. I think in my first couple of years here, I was kind of a slave to the scoreboard. But now, I’ve had multiple games this year, where I’ve pushed myself so far beyond that. Or the idea of fully committing to doing it all — and just watching a guy like LeBron play defense, score, playmake, and also rebound, basically go all out, every single night. I never thought I would ever even come close to triple doubles….. but I understand how that kind of game is possible now.”
Kuzma will be involved in a crowded forward battle with who the Wizards already have on the roster, plus new signings and draftees.
But if Kuzma can extract his championship-caliber expertise and what he learned these last few seasons from players like James, he could play a vital role alongside Bradley Beal, Spencer Dinwiddie and company.
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