The Los Angeles Lakers role players should continue to develop
One of the constant themes we heard from LeBron James is that Anthony Davis has only scratched the surface of his talent. There’s probably not much truth to that. Anthony Davis showed in the playoffs that he’s a top-3 player in the NBA, and it will be hard to improve upon his incredible skill set.
However, Kyle Kuzma and Alex Caruso have just scratched the surface of what they can do in the NBA.
It’s common in professional poker to see a young poker player build a fat bankroll behind a cocky attitude and aggressive play. Eventually, the new pro always hits a bad luck streak. His run of lousy cards combined with his inexperience and aggressive play sends him on a massive losing streak, and his bankroll gets drained down to zero.
The new poker pro must understand one vital aspect: he was never that good. Then, and only then, can he improve upon his weaknesses and change his game. If the poker player works hard, he can get better and better and eventually become one of the game’s best players.
Kyle Kuzma’s career very well might follow the same pattern as a young professional poker player. During Kyle Kuzma’s rookie season, he built a name for himself by averaging 16 points per game while shooting 37 percent from deep.
He averaged 19 points per game in his sophomore season, but his three-point percentage tumbled down to only 30 percent for the season. Throughout Kuzma’s first two seasons, the Lakers played at a breakneck pace, which inflated his numbers, plus he saved all of his energy for scoring while the rest of his game lagged.
Fast forward to this year. Frank Vogel and LeBron James finally managed to convince Kuzma that he wasn’t a good NBA player. They both convinced him to start to play better defense, rebound, and swing the ball. This past season was similar to the young poker pro losing his bankroll. His scoring average dipped down to 13 points per game, and he continued to struggle shooting from deep.
Now Kuzma understands that when he entered the league, he wasn’t a winning player. Kuzma changed his game during the 2019-2020 season, and his trajectory will trend upward. Kyle Kuzma will continue improving on defense next year, finish better at the rim, and become a reliable threat from downtown.
LeBron James and Rajon Rondo are the two smartest basketball players in the NBA, but Alex Caruso isn’t far behind. The guy understands the mental side of the game.
On the less glamorous side of the ball, Alex Caruso is a stud. He plays incredible position defense. He’s a master of cutting off opposing guards drives to the rim, and he also takes charges better than other guards in the NBA. Caruso finished 27 among all guards in charges drawn despite playing less than 20 minutes per game during the regular season.
It’s not an exaggeration to say Alex Caruso could make first or second-team All-Defense as soon as next season.
On offense, Alex Caruso struggled from deep. He often looked like he was rushing his jump shot. He’ll slow things down with more experience. The other parts of Caruso’s offensive game were on point last season. He makes perfect cuts to the rim, his drive-and-kick game is strong, and he finishes hard at the rack.
Kyle Kuzma and Alex Caruso just contributed to the Lakers’ title. They just went through the rigors of playoff basketball, and that changes a player. Confidence is everything in the NBA, and now Kuzma and Caruso have the assurance of knowing they helped lead the Lakers through the amped-up competition the playoffs offer.
Next season, Kyle Kuzma and Alex Caruso will come back to the Lakers much improved.