Lake Show Life
Fansided

Lakers: The effort to understand the toxicity surrounding Kyle Kuzma

By Ronald Agers

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the second quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Five of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 9, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the second quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Five of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 9, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 7
Next
Kyle Kuzma
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Kyle Kuzma was a 27th pick in the first round but has lottery pick expectations?

To the Los Angeles Lakers fans that seem to hate Kyle Kuzma so much, Lake Show Life has a question?

You do realize that Kyle Kuzma was NOT a lottery pick right?

The Los Angeles Lakers have let go a list of lottery picks that included Julius Randle, Lonzo Ball, D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram. They are all gone, right? Kyle Kuzma was an unknown coming out of Utah.

Then something funny happened. He won the MVP of the Summer league back in 2017.

Kuzma went on to start some games during his rookie season, averaging 16 points and 6 rebounds. What got the fans excited was the 51 percent shooting from the field and especially the 36 percent from 3-point land.

At this time, the Lakers were fully committed to the youth movement under Luke Walton. With a “young core” of Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, and Brandon Ingram fans had a trio of young talent to watch develop.

But then LeBron James showed up. What young team has he stayed with long term for the last decade?

Despite the transition in LeBron’s first year, Kuzma was still a part of the offense. He even won the MVP of the Rising Stars Challenge!

Kuzma’s scoring average and overall shooting increased. The problem that everyone focused on the lack of 3 point shooting. It carried over into last year.

His lack of a consistent role in the offense (Also read: Shots!) was something that he struggled with when Anthony Davis came to town. Lakers media and fans tend to overlook a major factor. Read on to see what that was!  

Home/Lakers News