Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma explained the importance of swallowing pride in search of a championship.
Lakers head coach Frank Vogel has done quite a bit of experimenting with his rotations especially with LeBron James and Anthony Davis (who has since returned) out with injuries. Kuzma said missing out on minutes can be frustrating, something he learned during the 2019-20 campaign:
“We're all competitors and we all want to be out on the court for 48 minutes,” Kuzma said, via Harrison Faigen of SB Nation. “That's just how you are if you're a competitor. If you don't want to then I would never want a player on my team like that. So I think it's all about sacrifice. That's something I really learned about last year, I think something that I struggled with last year. I was hard on myself and down a little bit, but I had great teammates that stuck with me and I figured it out, so now is not the time to be harping on yourself.”
Kuzma went on to say selflessness is imperative to the Lakers' ultimate goal of raising the Larry O'Brien Trophy later this summer:
“We're trying to win championships right now,” Kuzma said, via Faigen. “That's the window that we're in and it's at all costs. If you don't play then you don't play.”
Indeed, Kuzma knows all about taking a reduced role.
The former first-round pick was seemingly becoming a breakout star in L.A. through his first two seasons. But he was forced to accept more of a reserve role as the Lakers rolled to a championship.
Kuzma's willingness to embrace the new role in part helped him get an extension from the Lakers this past offseason. The 25-year-old has been an important part of Vogel's rotation, averaging 12.8 points and 6.4 rebounds through 57 games.
By any means necessary. Kuzma suggests that is the sort of mindset the Lakers have to embrace as they chase a second consecutive title.
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