The Los Angeles Lakers' Friday night showdown against the Washington Wizards features the return of two key figures in recent purple and gold history. Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are back in town, visiting an the arena they formerly knew as Staples Center.
Both Kuzma and KCP were vital cogs in the Lakers' championship run in the bubble back in 2020. While both have had their ups and downs during their respective LA stints, most fans still have somewhat of an affinity for them, both of whom the Lakers could clearly use on the roster right now.
Lakers coach Frank Vogel was asked about the return of Kuz and KCP, and he expressed “nothing but love” for his former role players.
Via Spectrum Sportsnet:
Frank Vogel on Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, 2020 Lakers champions who return tonight with the Wizards: “Nothing but love for those guys. They’ll always be family. Won a championship together. Just a really positive experience with both of those two individual players in my time here. I was very sorry to see them go, but that's the nature of this business.”
Kyle Kuzma in particular has blossomed into a rising star in Washington, unleashing the potential he flashed that excited Lakers fans as early as his rookie season. But beyond the raw talent and physical tools that he has, he's also an ardent student of the game who trains his game mentally just as much as he does physically.
“Kuz is a fun guy to coach,” the Lakers coach continued. “He really is a fun guy to be around everyday to talk the game. He loves to think the game, he loves to learn and grow.”
Kuz, in particular, has turned into a potent scorer in the clutch for the Wizards. Even before first-option Bradley Beal went out with a wrist injury, and now especially after, he's been their most lethal weapon in crunch time.
Kyle Kuzma ranks fifth in the entire league in total clutch points, being qualified as points scored with the game within five points and under five minutes. His 91-point tally ranks right behind Ja Morant and ahead of guys like Jayson Tatum and his former Lakers mentor in LeBron James.
He's come a long way from merely practicing game-winners in situational drills back during Lakers practices, something Frank Vogel would definitely be proud of. Asked about some of his best moments with Kuz, he immediately cited a moment when the young forward flexed his clutch gene.
“First thing that comes to mind is that game-winner he hit against Denver. He flew off to the corner and didn't just do it in practice, but we had LeBron and AD as decoys and allowed Kuz to get that shot and he knocked it down, just like he had done in practice.”
Kyle Kuzma is making a name for himself after his Lakers departure, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has done an admirable job filling in for an injured Bradley Beal as the Wizards compete for a play-in tournament spot. For one night, they become antagonists for the Laker faithful, but otherwise the LA ties remain.
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