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Could Kyle Kuzma be budding into the third star the Lakers need?

By Zane Harris

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 10: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers is interviewed after the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center on February 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 10: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers is interviewed after the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center on February 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) /
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When Anthony Davis was traded from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Lakers were forced to give up almost all of their young talent for the superstar power forward. The one piece of the young core they did keep was Kyle Kuzma.

In retrospect, it seems as if Brandon Ingram may have been the best out of the young core the Lakers had, however, Kuzma is slowly budding into the third star that the Lakers desperately need him to be.

It has been made crystal clear just how essential Anthony Davis is to the Lakers’ success. With the big man sidelined due to an Achilles injury, the Lakers have gone from a powerhouse team to a team just barely scraping by.

The main reason for this is there is not a true second star to play around a 36-year-old LeBron James. With this being the time of the year that James typically begins to coast through to save himself for the playoffs, it is essential that someone steps up to fill the role of the second option.

Up to this point, that player has been Kyle Kuzma. He has consistently been the second leading or leading scorer in every game that Davis has been out.

Kyle Kuzma is evolving for the Los Angeles Lakers right in front of our eyes.

With Kyle Kuzma getting the opportunity to have the ball in his hands and put up a higher quantity of shots on more possessions, he has been given the chance to give fans and the coaching staff to see his whole game and what he can do when he is not limited to a bench role.

Along with this, the 2020-2021 season has been Kuzma’s most efficient up to this point of his career. Although his points per game are at a career-low, Kyle Kuzma has done more with the opportunities he has been given than any other year he has been in the league.

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At 36.2%, Kuzma is having the second-best season of his career from three and also his second-best season in the league in terms of overall field goal percentage, currently sitting at 45.2%. In terms of effective field goal percentage, this is the best Kuzma has ever shot from the field, at 53.9% This is also tied for the best season Kuz has had in terms of offensive rating at 106.

Lastly, Kyle Kuzma is playing the best defense he ever has in the NBA this season. This has been one of the biggest concerns with him, however, it appears that he has bought into the defensive mentality that the Lakers have and the numbers speak for themselves. Kuz is having the best defensive rating of his career this season at 107.

This offseason, the biggest asks that fans had for Kyle Kuzma were that he become more efficient from the field and less of a liability on the defensive end. He has stepped up and greatly improved his game.

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When taking into account how young he still is, it is not too out there to think that he will continue to progress into the third star for the Los Angeles Lakers as long as he stays apart of the roster.

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