Los Angeles Lakers: Kyle Kuzma added to Team USA training camp roster

Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma has been invited to Team USA Training camp in August.

The Los Angeles Lakers have one of the best young cores in the NBA. When this young core was being put together, Kyle Kuzma was definitely the least heralded of the group.

Brandon Ingram was not only the No. 2 pick in 2016, but he also went to a powerhouse program in Duke. Lonzo Ball was the No. 2 overall pick the next season and also went to a prestigious program in UCLA. In addition, his father, LaVar Ball, is as boisterous as they come and has talked Lonzo up for years.

In the same draft as Ball, the Lakers selected Kuzma No. 27 overall after completing a trade with the Brooklyn Nets. But, it was the player they selected three picks later in Josh Hart that was well more known.

Hart was an All-American, Big East Player of the Year, Big East Defensive Player of the Year and helped Villanova win the NCAA Championship his junior season. He was very accomplished, making him someone that people believed would excel in the NBA right away. The same was not thought of about Kuzma.

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Kuzma declared for the draft after his junior season at Utah. He produced some impressive numbers there, averaging 16.4 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists. The biggest question when he declared for the draft was whether or not he would become a successful stretch-4 at the next level. He wasted no time in proving those people wrong.

From the minute Kuzma first put on the purple and gold he has been surpassing expectations. He took home the MVP award in the Las Vegas Summer League Championship game an carried that success over to the preseason. He didn’t stop there, as he played well during his first regular season in the NBA and continued to play well in his second season as well.

Lakers fans have taken notice of the work Kuzma has put in during his time with the team. Now, Team USA has taken notice as well.

It was announced that Kuzma was invited to join Team USA’s training camp in August with a chance to make the roster for the FIBA World Cup in China in September.

Kuzma responded to Adrian Wojnarowski’s tweet about it with a tweet of his own.

https://twitter.com/kylekuzma/status/1136324095878942720

As Wojnarowski notes, Kuzma is going to be among some of the best players in the NBA at this training camp.

In addition to Bradley Beal, Eric Gordon, Damian Lillard, Brook Lopez, Kevin Love, CJ McCollum and Jayson Tatum, James Harden and Anthony Davis are headlining the roster. Donovan Mitchell, P.J. Tucker, Andre Drummond, Khris Middleton, and LaMarcus Aldridge are expected to attend. Paul Millsap is also under consideration.

Marc Stein of the New York Times also reports that Zion Williamson’s interest in joining the team is being gauged and that Kemba Walker has committed to the team as well.

This is an incredible opportunity for Kuzma even if he doesn’t make the final roster and only participates in training camp. He will be surrounded by some of the best players in the NBA in addition to learning from one of the greatest coaches of all-time in Gregg Popovich, who will be leading Team USA once again.

This will be yet another learning opportunity for Kuzma. Working out and competing against the best is the quickest way to improve your game. Kuzma is getting a chance not many players are afforded to take his game to the next level.