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Los Angeles Lakers: Kyle Kuzma silenced haters of his hook shot this season

By James Francuz

NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 22: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 22: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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The hook shot may seem like a thing of the past. However, Kyle Kuzma’s ability to shoot it effectively has caused doubters to no longer question him.

Los Angeles Lakers rookie Kyle Kuzma has been a heap of fun to watch this season. In every sense of the word, he has exceeded the expectations that were placed on him.

Granted the Lakers shut him down due to an ankle injury, that does not diminish what he has done. In a city that has been feeling blue for multiple years, Kuzma has given the team a new sense of energy.

Part of it stems from his extreme amount of confidence. Every time Kuzma plays, he just looks fearless. Some of it, too, relates to his surprisingly decent ability to rebound the basketball.

Perhaps it is also a by-product of his very name. People have constantly echoed “Kuuuz” from the stands all year long, and the ring it carries is not too bad.

He has surely provided a spark on offense as well. His repertoire of moves, especially at his age, has been thoroughly breathtaking to soak in.

In Kuzma’s seemingly endless toolbox is a pretty, sweeping hook shot. Remind you of anyone, Lakers fans?

Indeed, this beautiful shot was mastered by one of the league’s all-time greats, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In the 1970s and 1980s, Kareem’s famous move enabled him to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

At this stage, fans have gotten used to seeing it from Kuzma. One could argue Kuzma’s is not as traditional as Abdul-Jabbar’s. However, it has still been a thing of beauty without a doubt.

Before Kuzma puts up the shot, he tends be in the midst of running. Thus, one could say it is more of a running hook shot. Contrarily, Cap’s involved him bullying defenders and getting insane leverage in his right leg prior to the release.

Granted Kuzma’s version is different than Kareem’s, the former’s percentages are nothing to hate on. Per Harrison Faigen of Lakers Nation, “Kuuuz” has made 43 of his 76 hook attempts in 2017-2018. That mark is well above the 50 percent plateau.

That being said, something is definitely working for Kyle. Even though the hook shot is not used by many, the 22-year-old has quieted his critics.

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According to Bill Oram of The Orange County Register, the Lakers’ rookie was not given the freedom to shoot it in college.

"“People used to make fun of me for shooting it,” Kuzma said, “because they were like, ‘Man, that’s an old shot.”And now?“Now it’s pretty effective,” Kuzma said. “I talk to them still and it’s pretty funny but they don’t laugh no more.”"

It is wonderful knowing that Kuzma has managed to silence his critics this season. As the 27th pick in last summer’s draft, the ballplayer understands what it means to be doubted. By now, though, few, if any, are like that anymore.

Despite that, some faces within the Lakers’ organization were confused initially. Head coach Luke Walton was among that group, via Oram.

"“In my head, I was trying to figure out, does he have that in his game or was that just a bad shot that went in?” Walton said, remembering back to last year’s pre-draft combine in Chicago. “And then I’ve seen him do it a lot more since.”"

Walton’s line of thought is justifiable to some extent. Because the hook shot has not been tried out by many since Abdul-Jabbar retired, it is easy to call it “a bad shot.”

Kuzma has proven in 2017-2018 that it is certainly not a bad shot. It has become one of his best shots to be honest.

For that reason, Lakers’ play-by-play commentator Stu Lantz gave props to “Kuuuz” earlier this year. Via Oram’s piece, Lantz said the following regarding the rebirth of the iconic maneuver.

"“I was kind of shocked by it,” said Lakers television analyst Stu Lantz, who played with Abdul-Jabbar in 1975-76. “I just didn’t expect the kids of this generation to have that in their arsenal.”"

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Assuming he continues to work on his game in the offseason, the purple and gold’s prized rookie will likely utilize the hook more next year. In doing so, one can only wish he will squelch even more skeptics if they still exist.

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