Kyle Kuzma saw some of the darkest days in Los Angeles Lakers history, but now, he is seeing the franchise's resurrection.
Speaking to the media following the Lakers' Game 5 win over the Denver Nuggets to book their ticket to the NBA Finals, Kuzma reflected on the horrible past few years that had the Purple and Gold missing the postseason for six straight campaigns.
Kuzma was drafted by the team in 2017. In his first season, the storied franchise finished with a 35-47 record for 11th in the West standings. They followed it with a 37-45 showing in 2018-19 for the 10th seed in LeBron James' first year in Hollywood.
“It’s an incredible feeling,” the Kyle Kuzma said, per Christian Rivas of SB Nation
“It’s a feeling that you can’t take for granted because you never know when you’re going to get back to this. Especially for me, I’m just embracing it all. Me and Alex we’ve been here through the dark days of Lakers Nation: losing seasons and rebuilds. To be here now in the Finals, it’s a testament to a lot of hard work from obviously us as players, and the front office for making the right decisions. I’m just super happy to be here.”
Indeed, it is special to see the Lakers return to the NBA Finals after a decade of mediocrity and failed expectations. Kuzma has been in the league for only three years, but he has already dealt with several dramas and controversies for being part of a team that always has high expectations each and every season.
It remains to be seen if LA can get the job done in the NBA bubble, but one thing is for sure: Kuzma and his teammates will be locked in when the NBA Finals begin.
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