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Los Angeles Lakers: Team awards for first quarter of season

By Kenneth Teape

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 29: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers runs out before the game against the Golden State Warriors on November 29, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 29: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers runs out before the game against the Golden State Warriors on November 29, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers: 5 positive takeaways from first quarter of season
SACRAMENTO, CA – NOVEMBER 22: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball during the game against the Sacramento Kings on November 22, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Lakers First Quarter Awards: Rookie of the Quarter; Kyle Kuzma

Following the 2017 NBA Draft, all the attention given to the Lakers picks went to Lonzo Ball. With the 27th pick, the Lakers selected Utah power forward Kyle Kuzma. It was a pick met with plenty of skepticism, as many people didn’t believe Kuzma’s skill set would translate to the NBA. Those people couldn’t have been more wrong.

Kuzma has been excellent for the Lakers thus far. He dominated in the Las Vegas Summer League and never slowed down. Kuzma played well in the preseason and has carried that over into the games that count in the regular season.

Right now, Kuzma is the Lakers leading scorer, averaging 16.8 points per game. He is shooting 49.8 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from 3-point range. Having that kind of production from a first round pick is outstanding, let alone one selected that deep into the first round.

In addition to the scoring, Kuzma has proven his rebounding at Utah was no fluke. He is averaging 6.5 rebounds per game and 1.5 assists. Kuzma isn’t delivering much defensively, but his offense is more than making up for it in the early going.

The Lakers have to be ecstatic with the production that Kuzma has provided thus far. He is blowing away all the expectations placed upon him and has cemented his role in the rotation.

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