Like most players in the NBA, Kyle Kuzma looked up to Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. Now that Kuz is officially leaving LA for the Washington Wizards, he reflected on some special moments during his time with the organization.
As we all know, Kobe was always around the Lakers even after his retirement. Kuzma tried to take advantage of that and get together with the Black Mamba to workout. What happened after they finally linked up and had a training session was a huge surprise to Kuz, via Player's Tribune:
So that dinner happens with Kobe, right — the one I was telling you about?? Well, maybe a year goes by before I get the nerve to hit him up again. Finally, though, the next summer I text him like, “Yo, Kobe, we have to work out. I want to get in the gym with you.”
“Yo, fella, meet me at Newport at 8:00 AM Sunday morning.”
We get into the workout, and it’s literally the hardest workout I’ve ever had in my life.
And like I said, it’s August. That’s close enough to the Lakers season, where I’m typically thinking I’m in pretty good shape. I’m running, I’m doing hills, I’m doing a bunch of conditioning things. But Kobe’s telling me, “Alright, we’re going to do this move, do that move. We got 25 reps of each movement.” Usually you’re in a gym and it’s like make 10, make 12, whatever. We’re doing 25 of each thing, man. I get done with this workout, I’m completely, completely dead tired.
I run into Lakers GM Rob Pelinka the next day, and he says, “Aw man, Kobe said that y’all had a great workout. He said that you were in really good shape.” And I was like, No f****ing way he said that.
So funny, man.
One little compliment from Kobe, that’s really all it takes. I’ll be telling my grandkids about the time Kobe said I was in shape. You keep stuff like that with you.
A compliment from Kobe Bryant? Kuzma really couldn't believe it. That's just one of the many unforgettable memories Kuz has from his four seasons with the Lakers franchise.
It's sad that it has come to an end, but Kyle Kuzma is certainly grateful for his time in Los Angeles.
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