Lakers: The effort to understand the toxicity surrounding Kyle Kuzma

Remember when Kyle Kuzma was being compared (Favorably!) to Jayson Tatum!

Some Lakers fans always seem to give Kyle Kuzma a hard time. How about Jayson Tatum’s first three years in the NBA? Those first two years when a certain point guard named Kyrie Irving was a major impact on his play. Tatum’s growth in his rookie year was astounding!

But it was when Kyrie Irving was lost for the playoffs with an injury, the young players for the Celtics took off pushing a LeBron James led Cleveland Cavaliers team to a possible Game 7 elimination. After that series, Tatum was considered a budding superstar.

Then he went off to get mentoring from the late “Icon” Kobe Bryant. It was believed when Tatum got together with Irving, Boston was supposed to make the NBA Finals. Well, it didn’t work out that way. Tatum struggled with the ball-dominant Kyrie and started getting criticism for not matching expectations.

Soon as Kyrie exits, Tatum’s high level of play returned. He’s considered a star again and got a max-level extension. Pundits will continue to compare the two (Why? Who knows?). but the real comparison should be Marcus Smart.

Marcus Smart signed a four year, $51,999,900 extension with the Celtics, including $50,000,000 guaranteed, a while back. The contract stretches out to an annual average salary of $12,999,975.

Now let’s compare Kuzma’s deal. $40 million may sound like a lot to non-Kuzma fans, but $13.3 million a year at this moment in time (Especially with the financial issues due to the pandemic!), plus look at the stats comparison…

Marcus Smart:

Last year: 60 games,12.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists. FG: 37.5 percent, 3 point FG: 34.7 percent, FT: 83.6 percent. 

Career: 401 games, 9.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4 assists. FG: 37.3 percent, 3-point FG: 31.8 percent, FT: 77.5 percent.

Kyle Kuzma:

Last year: 61 games, 12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists. FG: 43.6 percent, 3-point FG: 31.6 percent, FT: 73.5 percent.

Career: 208 games 16.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists. FG: 44.9 percent, 3-point FG: 33.1 percent, FT: 73.2 percent.

But watch Boston Celtics games and you will hear time and time again that Marcus Smart is the heart and soul of the team. The Lakers do not need that from Kyle Kuzma, but as you can see he is shooting better and averaging more points. Marcus Smart is being celebrated.

How come Kuzma gets the same?

Bottom line, this is yet another outstanding deal for the Lakers.

• For both parties, this is basically kicking the can down the road to see if he does deserve a huge max deal that Kuzma desires.
• It links up to the summer of 2023 when LeBron James’ current deal expires.
• There is now a certainty in the team’s long-term planning based around the extensions for James and Anthony Davis.

Now that Lake Show Life has analyzed from all angles, read on to see what the opinion of Kyle Kuzma’s future.