Los Angeles Lakers forward Jared Dudley had high praise for teammate Kyle Kuzma after the 24-year-old scored a season-high 36 points during Saturday's win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Dudley said Kuzma has “scary” potential and even called him the “key” to the Lakers' season:
That boy @kylekuzma was 🥘 last night! So much potential it’s scary! He’s the 🔑.. #steadyprogress
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) January 12, 2020
Kuzma had the opportunity to start in each of the past two games due to the absence of Anthony Davis. LeBron James also missed Saturday's contest. Kuzma capitalized with his two best games of the season.
The third-year Lakers forward scored 26 points in a win over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday before his eruption on Saturday. Kuzma shot 15-of-24 from the field and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, adding seven rebounds for good measure.
It had largely been a disappointing season for Kuzma up until this point. He looked like a staple of L.A.'s future in each of the past two seasons, but the arrival of Davis as well as Danny Green this past summer forced Kuzma to adjust to a different role.
Kuzma had started in just one contest prior to the last two games, averaging a little over 20 minutes per game for the Lakers. He has also been the subject of trade rumors as the Lakers grapple with roster needs.
Of course, these performances only serve to enhance Kuzma's stock. At the same time, he showed why — as Jared Dudley suggests — he might play a vital role in the Lakers' quest for a championship.
The Lakers (32-7) currently hold the top spot in the Western Conference, but much of their early success still mostly seemed to revolve around James and Davis. Perhaps Kyle Kuzma can carve out more playing time in Frank Vogel's rotation now that he has seized his opportunity.
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