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Los Angeles Lakers: Does Kyle Kuzma have a legitimate shot at Rookie of the Year

By Jack Obrien

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 23: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after his third three pointer during a 108-107 win over the Boston Celtics at Staples Center on January 23, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 23: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after his third three pointer during a 108-107 win over the Boston Celtics at Staples Center on January 23, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers: Does Kyle Kuzma have a legitimate shot at Rookie of the Year
DETROIT, MI – JANUARY 24: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz drives around Avery Bradley #22 of the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Little Caesars Arena on January 24, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. Utah won the game 98-95 in overtime. 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Scoring

Only Donovan Mitchell is ahead of Kyle Kuzma in points-per-game at 19.2 compared to Kuzma’s 16.4. As noted earlier, Mitchell is undoubtedly a talented scorer, he is also undoubtedly his team’s number one option.

In fact, it’s not even close. Mitchell handles the ball on offense more than any other player when he is in the game, not at all the case for Kuzma. In addition to that, Mitchell has started in 27 games this season compared to Kuzma’s 21.

3 Point Shooting

Three rookies lead Kyle Kuzma (.372) in 3-point shooting percentage. Jayson Tatum (.451), Bogdan Bogdanovic (.404), and Dillon Brooks (.398, who is barely eligible for the category with 123 attempts on the season compared to Kuzma’s 242- Brooks leads Kuzma by .026 percentage points).

Only two of those players, Tatum and Bogdanovic, make a difference with their 3-point shot. The key to this statistic is the fact that Kuzma makes a living shooting 3-pointers (or he will soon, literally). Kuzma has 242 attempts on the year compared to Tatum’s 144 and Bogdanovic’s 161.

Also of note, Tatum plays on an elite team and is literally the last offensive option in the starting lineup. A very different play style makes Kuzma’s stats in this category stand out ten fold. Jayson Tatum routinely gets a wide-open corner 3-pointer off of Kyrie Irving‘s drive and kick plays. Playing on a team with a superstar that draws routine double teams like Irving and is the focal point of every defense, every night, makes for completely different opportunities and open shots.

To put the percentage category into context we can use total 3-point makes on the season. The Bulls impressive rookie, Lauri Markkanen leads all rookies with 103 makes on the season, trailed by Donovan Mitchell with 101. Kyle Kuzma comes in third with 95 made 3-pointers on the season.

Notice anything unique here? Neither of the players that lead Kuzma in percentage beyond the arc also lead him in made threes. It is obvious when utilizing 3-point statistics that Kuzma is unquestionably the most impressive 3-point marksmen among rookies, it’s not even close.

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