Kyle Kuzma’s Los Angeles Lakers career is at a crossroads.
With former Detroit Pistons power forward Markieff Morris now a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, minutes at the power forward position might be hard to come by, which is not good news going forward for Kyle Kuzma. Can Kuzma make up the minutes at small forward?
The world must look so much more different for Kyle Kuzma than this time last year.
12 months previous, Kuzma alongside his fellow young core members Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Josh Hart, was starring alongside superstar LeBron James. Starting alongside LeBron, Kuzma had his best season to date and was considered a future all-star for the purple and gold.
Fast-forward 12 months and Kuzma must be wondering where it all went wrong.
In the span of a year, the Los Angeles Lakers have revamped, reloaded, and are now ready to compete for a title.
Acquiring superstar power forward Anthony Davis went a long way in realizing the potential of this Lakers team. Alongside LeBron James, Anthony Davis is leading this Lakers squad to heights not seen since the day of Pau and Kobe.
While this is excellent for the Los Angeles Lakers, it is not exactly ideal for Kyle Kuzma. His play has declined this season and while his teammates praise him frequently, Kuz’s confidence and contribution have taken a step back.
With a veteran filled team, is there room for a young player still working on his craft? If Kuzma is going to be a large part of this team, he will need to step up his production fast.