If the Los Angeles Lakers want to reach their championship goals, Kyle Kuzma will play a pivotal role.
Over the summer, Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma suffered a stress reaction that ended his time with Team USA and forced him to miss the start on the NBA season.
He returned on November 1st against the Dallas Mavericks scoring just nine points and struggling during his first four games. Since then Kuzma has looked more like the guy we saw during this rookie year and that could be the key to this team’s success.
Make no mistake, the Lakers need LeBron James and Anthony Davis to be all world if the team is to win its first championship in nine years but they desperately need a consistent 3rd option and that’s been clear this season despite starting 17-2.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis are doing most of the heavy lifting for the Lakers. LeBron leads the NBA in assist at 11 per game along with 25.7 points and 7.1 rebounds. Davis has put up his typical numbers as well with 26.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, and is the league leader in blocks at 2.8 per game.
During his first four games back from injury, Kyle Kuzma averaged 9.0 points on 35.9% from the field and 12.9% from deep. He looked fatigued and his timing was off. That should be expected given how much time he missed. He’s also adjusting to a Laker team with different players and expectations.
During his first couple of seasons, the Lakers were never expected to compete for a championship like they are now. Championship expectations can weigh heavy on young players and Kuzma is no different but in the 3 following games, he looked great.
He averaged 20 points on 53.6% shooting and a ridiculous 47.6 from the 3-point line in games against Toronto, Phoenix, and Golden State. He helped the Lakers go 2-1 over that stretch.
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Last season he averaged 18.7 points on 45% shooting in 70 games for the Lakers. Kuzma has a versatile game that allows him to score from all the levels of the court. He has an array of shots around the basket and a quick trigger from deep.
He’s been working with Lakers’ assistant coach Phil Handy who has helped develop Pascal Siakam and Kawhi Leonard. Of all the young players drafted by the Lakers in recent years, Kuzma seems like the one who embraced Kobe Bryant‘s Mamba mentality.
Kuzma can get a shot anytime he wants. His game allows him to play alongside both LeBron James and Anthony Davis or as the primary option when those guys need a rest. Having a 3rd option who can deliver 18 points a night will take a lot of pressure off of the other bench guys. if Kuzma can score his career average of 17.2 points the Lakers will probably have the best offensive rating in the NBA.
Rob Pelinka kept Kyle Kuzma out of the Anthony Davis trade and the Lakers will need him to perform as a borderline Allstar this season. He isn’t afraid of the bright lights of Hollywood and embraces what it means to be a Laker. He isn’t the best player on this team but he might be the most important to the Lakers title hopes.