Los Angeles Lakers: 3 Standouts from Las Vegas Summer League
By Tony Thai
Kyle Kuzma
Kyle Kuzma is already looking like a steal for the Lakers with his play in the Las Vegas Summer League. Even with most of the attention on Lonzo Ball, Kuzma has impressed everyone with his showing in the Summer League.
Kuzma was picked 27th in the 2017 NBA Draft, a reach to some. Kuzma was predicted to be drafted in the second round and the Lakers took him near the end of the first. Looking to prove people wrong, he has played extremely well for the Lakers.
Throughout his time in Las Vegas, he has looked like a skilled player that can do it all on both sides of the ball. He is a good defender, shoots the ball well from three, rebounds and showed ability at passing and dribbling the ball. Kuzma looks like a modern-day NBA stretch four that also rebounds and defends.
He was the Lakers leading scorer throughout the Summer League. Kuzma averaged 21.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists on 51% shooting. He has scored 20+ points four times and had a high of 31 points against the Boston Celtics on Saturday, July 8. After notching 30 points and 10 rebounds in the championship game, Kuzma earned the NBA Summer League Championship Game MVP.
Thirty points. Ten Rebounds. Six 3-pointers. @kylekuzma, have yourself a championship game! pic.twitter.com/Dhzfwy6c6n
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) July 18, 2017
His chemistry with Ball is through the roof and they play very well with each other. It seems that every game, Kuzma is on the receiving end of a long pass from Ball that leads to a dunk.
His performance here at the Summer League has been nothing but impressive and might help get some minutes in the upcoming season with the Lakers.