The 2019-20 NBA season has been a strange one for Los Angeles Lakers swingman Kyle Kuzma.
The former first-round pick looked like a potential franchise cornerstone in his first couple years in the league. But the arrival of Anthony Davis and a slew of veterans changed the dynamic of the roster, and Kuzma struggled to get acclimated.
A preseason injury did not do Kuzma any favors either. The third-year man suffered a foot injury this past September, which gave him on-and-off trouble all year.
However, the NBA's hiatus allowed Kuzma to get stronger and healthier. He also made a concerted effort to work on his jumper (via Bill Oram of The Athletic):
Suddenly, you start to see the value of an interrupted season and a second training camp for a player like Kuzma. In the nearly four months between the Lakers’ last practice on March 11 and their arrival in the Orlando bubble, there wasn’t much Kuzma could do other than lift weights and work on his shot.
“I just been in the league long enough to know what I need to fix,” Kuzma said, “and just a lot of self-reflection. Just little things that help my confidence.”
The Lakers forward entered the hiatus shooting below 30 percent from beyond the arc. But he has showed signs of busting loose in Orlando.
The 25-year-old displayed a fluid stroke in Saturday's exhibition against the Orlando Magic, making five three-pointers and scoring 25 points.
HIGHLIGHTS: @kylekuzma pours in 25 points and five triples on 10-of-13 shooting pic.twitter.com/fHjBfEpR2g
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) July 25, 2020
Granted, it is just an exhibition game. Still, Kuzma showed little hesitancy in firing from deep and capitalizing on catch-and-shoot opportunities.
The Lakers are one of the strongest defensive teams in basketball. But Kuzma's ability to be a third scorer and floor-spacer might make them the team to beat in Orlando.
Follow Us
Subscribe