Kyle Kuzma's journey in the NBA has been full of wavering expectations. When he was drafted with the 27th overall pick in 2017 and averaged 16.1 points per game on decent percentages his rookie year his stock went sky-high as he was labeled a draft steal destined to become another star for the Los Angeles Lakers. Then when LeBron James joined the team Kuzma fit in really well next to LeBron but he became overrated as just a chucker who doesn't play defense. Kuzma has also embraced the life of a star in LA with all the shoe deal dollars and starlet relationships in tow.
Kuzma's real value is probably somewhere between star player and overrated chucker. However, since he's going to be a restricted free agent after next season the only person's opinion on Kuzma's value that matters, is his own.
On the daily Locked On Lakers Podcast, host Anthony Irwin is joined by Jorge Sedano (ESPN) to discuss the Lakers in the Finals and what Kyle Kuzma's future is with the team.
Jorge Sedano: When he plays the right way around LeBron and AD, which is when I think he's at his most efficient and the numbers will bear that out from a three-point percentage and his ability to get to the basket and cutting and things of that nature… If he was willing, moving forward, to just say to himself, this is what I'm going to be on this championship team, I'm gonna be the guy who shoots wide-open threes, and I'm gonna be the guy that moves off the ball and get easy buckets at the rim because everyone's paying attention to LeBron and AD. If he can subjugate his ego a little, I think that he can, he can be a piece on a championship team or a championship level team for a really, really, really long time. I just worry about him and his disposition when it comes to that role.
We've heard him talk about it openly. He's said things just a couple of weeks ago, and I'm paraphrasing, but it was something to the effect of ‘you guys know I can do whatever is needed. I could start. You guys know, I could start. I could come off the bench.'
Those kinds of things. They sound right but listen, I've been covering this league for 17 years when I hear that from a 25-year-old who hasn't made money yet, who was getting all the shots in the world before LeBron. I can sense there's like this internal struggle within him and within the construct of the team and its leadership. I do feel like there's something there like they need to almost convince him that this is the best thing for you… He is important to what they do so hopefully he understands that.
Anthony Irwin: I wouldn't be shocked if he wins his championship and then pursues more money a larger role somewhere else.
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