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Los Angeles Lakers: Kyle Kuzma selected as top young marketable athlete

By Mason Kern

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 23: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on December 23, 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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 23: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on December 23, 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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The marketing company CHARGE recently released its 25-under-25 list for athletes with the strongest brands. Los Angeles Lakers’ forward Kyle Kuzma cracked the rankings at No. 20

In the second year of CHARGE’s 25-under-25 list for strongest athlete brands, the Los Angeles Lakers were featured as forward Kyle Kuzma was tapped as having the 20th strongest brand amongst athletes at, or under, 25 years old across all sports.

Kuzma, 23, was an All-Rookie First Team inductee last season. After getting selected with the 27th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, he exceeded expectations averaging 16.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game on 36.3 percent three-point shooting.

The Lakers were not originally supposed to have that pick, though. Kuzma was initially drafted by the Brooklyn Nets but was traded to LA in a draft-day trade that saw Timofey Mozgov and D’Angelo Russell get moved for Brook Lopez and the rights to that spot in the draft. Lopez has since moved on to the Milwaukee Bucks.

In order to create the list–which is dominated by NBA players featuring 16 of the 25 athletes–the company researched 969 young competitors across 48 sports to determine the ways they market themselves outside of sport.

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"“We analyzed brand strength across many different channels, from social interactions to traditional media presence and even Reddit popularity,” CHARGE said on their website. “Then, we applied a proprietary formula to determine which athletes are making their mark not just with fans, but with the general public.”"

Kuzma has done well in marketing his name and creating a profile outside of just basketball. His apparel brand ‘Kuzmania’ has increased in popularity since his rookie year success. Now, with LeBron James in town, everyone wins–not just on the court, but off as well.

The Lakers were also featured on CHARGE’s debut list last year as 2017 No. 2 overall pick Lonzo Ball was tapped at No. 4. However, Ball did not crack this year’s iteration of the rankings despite being one of the faces of his family’s ‘Big Baller Brand.’

Former Laker turned recent New Orleans Pelicans’ 23-year-old forward/center Julius Randle also made the list. Ranking at No. 22, Randle had a breakout year for the Lakers last season and was arguably their most productive player.

According to CHARGE, Randle has spent years investing in his social media presence stemming back to his days as a Wildcat at the University of Kentucky.

Kuzma has been praised by a number of players this offseason for his development during the summer period. He will hope to have an additional year of success, and continue to develop his image and expand the ‘Kuzmania’ brand.

Next. Kyle Kuzma's Top 5 Games of 2017-18. dark

All while helping lead the Lake Show to their first playoff appearance since the 2012-13 season in which they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round.

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