When the Los Angeles Lakers drafted Kyle Kuzma this past summer, I was not shocked, nor were most Pac-12 fans. Why is everyone so surprised?
Los Angeles Lakers rookie power forward Kyle Kuzma has turned heads in the early going. This is not the first time that he has caught the attention of the basketball world unexpectedly.
Utah Utes head coach Larry Krystkowiak has turned around the Utah basketball program and has put Utah back on the NCAA tournament map. Kyle Kuzma helped Krystkowiak achieve that.
Utah joined the Pac-12 in 2011, the same year Krystkowiak joined the Utes. He has led his team to two NCAA Tournament appearances and winning records in the last four years (2014: 21-12, 2015: 29-6 Sweet 16, 2016: 27-9 2nd Round, 2017: 20-12).
Kuzma was a big part of Utah’s recent success. Last season, for example, I wrote, ”Kuzma made over 50 percent of his three-point shots in eight of the games he played at Utah. He made more than 50 percent or more field goals in 17 games last season. In addition to scoring, Kuzma racked up 17 double-doubles! He also makes a majority of his three’s!”
Los Angeles Lakers
So anyone who watches or is a fan of the Pac-12 conference is not surprised by Kuzma’s performances of late. The former Ute has faced NBA talent in a conference that has included Aaron Gordon, Stanley Johnson, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Ivan Rabb, Lonzo Ball, Jordan Bell, Dillon Brooks, Markelle Fultz, Lauri Markannen and T.J. Leaf in recent seasons.
But what you may be missing here, in the huge scheme of all things Pac-12, is that the Lakers head coach Luke Walton and his assistant coaches not only are former Pac-12 players, Walton’s dad Bill Walton is as well.
Again that’s not all. The elder Walton announces Pac-12 basketball games, providing a huge amount of color commentary and analysis. You don’t think Bill had a talk with Luke and the two knew that Kuzma was running under the radar?
Just like Phil Jackson, the New York Knicks President at the time received props for drafting Kristaps Porzingis, the Walton/Magic Johnson/Rob Pelinka trio is receiving praise for drafting Kuzma. No one on the East coast knew Kuzma, so when he balled out at the Las Vegas Summer League, all the other NBA GM’s were slapping their foreheads.
Just fess up everyone. If you don’t pay attention to the Pac-12 your shocked, surprised, stunned and hopefully pleasantly. Put away your East Coast Bias this season and take in some ‘Pac-12 After Dark’ basketball with Bill Walton (if you can handle him) commentary.
Next: Top 10 Draft Picks In Lakers History
Then next season, when, let’s say Rawle Alkins or Elijah Stewart lands in the NBA lottery, and possibly drafted by the Lakers, you won’t be shocked; you will be in on it. You’ll be looked at as a brilliant basketball mind.