Kyle Kuzma: Disappearing and reappearing constantly for the Lakers

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 13: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during their game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on April 13, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 13: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during their game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on April 13, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

I feel like a broken record at times to be quite honest especially when I hear myself say it out loud but I cannot seem to help it as I am only going by what I see when I watch Los Angeles Lakers games. Kyle Kuzma has had moments this season where he has stood up tall and contributed heavily especially when LeBron James and Anthony Davis were out with injuries.

Kuzma would contribute with impressive numbers in the points and rebounds column. That being said, there are those other times that seem to always happen where either Kuzma doesn’t contribute at all or just has an off night. There never seems to be a stable run of consistency despite his importance to the team.

Take for the game against the Portland Trail Blazers in which the Lakers lost. Where was Kyle Kuzma? He shot 2-11 from the field and totaled only four points. The game before that, he scored 25 points in a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

In the victory against the Denver Nuggets, Kuzma was nowhere to be found as he only scored six points on a total of 4 shots taken. He dropped 24 against Toronto, but in the game before that, he only had 2 points in a loss to Sacramento. Does a pattern seem to be forming here? I think so.

Lakers: Kyle Kuzma is struggling.

As of right now, Kuzma is shooting the lowest he ever has with a percentage of 43% from the field. He is averaging the same amount of points as he did last season at 12.8 points per game.

There is never any form of consistency from his part and to be quite honest, it is very stressful to watch. A guy who has loads of talent but sometimes it just doesn’t seem to shine through.

What is most disappointing to me is that at clutch moments or in important games like last night, he fails to play as well as he can or just doesn’t show up.

Everyone is entitled to have off nights but that all depends on the individual player. There is a big difference between when players like LeBron, Davis, Damien Lillard or Steph Curry have off games as compared to someone like Kuzma. The consistency just never seems to come together for him.

Right at this moment, where the Lakers have unfortunately dropped to seventh place in the western conference standings, and are going through a 2-8 slump in their last ten games.

Lakers fans would hope that he would be one of the spark plugs for the team and be consistent night after night as the Lakers seem to be fighting for their lives but we have not seen that. I wonder where this will lead for him?