Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel says he's “really going to push” small forward Kyle Kuzma to live up to his potential defensively in 2019-20.

Kuzma was the lone youngster on the Lakers who survived the Anthony Davis trade, as Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart were all shipped to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Vogel sees Kuzma playing a major role for the LakeShow.

https://twitter.com/hmfaigen/status/1150123799624335361

This past season, Kyle Kuzma averaged 18.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 45.6 percent from the field, 30.3 percent from beyond the arc and 75.2 percent from the free-throw line. The swingman is expected to start alongside LeBron James, Danny Green, Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins.

The Lakers already know what they're going to get from Kuzma on offense. To win games in the rugged Western Conference, you have to be able to defend at a high level. Kuzma has the physical tools to be a good defender. It's up to him to give maximum effort on that end of the floor every night. Frank Vogel is a defensive-minded coach, so he's going to get into Kuzma's face if Kyle isn't playing defense the proper way.

It’s championship or bust for the Lakers in 2019-20. That's what happens when Anthony Davis joins a team with LeBron James on it. Kuzma has the potential to be the team's third-leading scorer in 2019-20. However, he can't just focus on offense and forget about playing defense. That may have worked under Luke Walton, but it won't under Vogel.