Kyle Kuzma had perhaps the most impressive out of all rookie seasons for the Los Angels Lakers — not the most glamorous pick, but certainly the most productive — putting up a healthy 16.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while being trusted into some important minutes.
Yet even in his first season with the team, Kuzma has managed to take advice from the legends, going out to dinner at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood with Lakers' great Kobe Bryant, who shared some prompt advice with the Michigander.
“It’s not what you do in the national TV games. It’s what you do on a back-to-back in Minnesota when you’re tired but you’re still trying to dominate, to kill,” said Bryant, according to Lee Jenkins of Sports Illustrated.
Kuzma's Lakers were hosting a desperate San Antonio Spurs team on April 4, fighting to claw back into the playoffs. The lights were on, with ESPN broadcasting, but he had played 36 minutes the prior night in Utah and putting a lot of mileage on his legs.
“I get through a lot of situations,” Kuzma said, “asking myself what Kobe would do.”
Kuzma logged a whopping 43 minutes on two hurt ankles, and dropped 30 points, snatching a win in overtime.
The University of Utah product has certainly played with a chip on his shoulder this season after being selected with the 27th overall pick, but it's been his willingness to seek advice and internalize it that has taken his game to greater heights, poised for an even better season in 2018-19.
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