Kyle Kuzma first got to play with one of his idols in LeBron James during his second year in the league. Kuzma's experience was starkly different than draftmate and former Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball as to how he dealt with being able to play alongside someone he looked up to growing up:

“I can only speak for myself — I've dealt with a lot, and I've handled a lot,” Kuzma told Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report. “The biggest thing was early childhood, making it out of Flint [Michigan]. A lot of people don't make it out. It's a super violent place. It's hard to really make it to 21 where I'm from. I made it out. That's the hardest thing a kid can go through.”

James was often critical of his own team, with subtle messages ranging from how his team needs to toughen up and not allow distractions, to how someone other than him needs to step up and help the Lakers win.

Kuzma also doesn't count James as his only idol:

“I had a lot,” he said. “Kobe. Melo. Bron. MJ. Shaq.”

The Flint native also had a very different road to make it in the NBA. Kuzma wasn't a top draft pick, barely squeaking into the first round with the 27th overall pick. He was expected to go in the second round, but a line of workouts with different teams and a strong combine won him a vote of confidence from the Lakers, who saw his potential.

Ball was expected to take the NBA by storm and faced a different set of ideals, which also had a part as to how his performance during this past season was viewed as largely disappointing. Kuzma has had to fight for his place in the league and there is little a James comment or stare can do to rattle a player made of sterner stuff.