Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma has always been a smooth player, ever since his rookie year. The sophomore stud displayed just that with this amazing half-court heave to beat the shot clock in the first quarter of their do-or-die game against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday. He even did it with a euro-step to elude his defenders.
🚨 Kyle Kuzma from HALFCOURT! 🚨#WeGoHard 26#LakeShow 29
📱💻: https://t.co/cb8TXyNer6 pic.twitter.com/RTBasqE3WV
— NBA (@NBA) March 23, 2019
However, in the grand scheme of things, that shot was just merely a highlight. At the end of the day, the Lakers lost. Their roller-coaster ride of a season has finally figuratively come to an end. And it came at the hands of former Laker D'Angelo Russell and his Brooklyn Nets, who took care of business and officially put a knife in the Lakers' hopes of making the playoffs this April.
It also didn't help that Kuzma had a horrible shooting night. He scored 18 points, but shot just 5-of-19 from the field, and made just 3-of-11 from beyond the arc.
Article Continues BelowNonetheless, all of this was just a formality. We've already known the Lakers had bowed out of the playoff race for around a couple of weeks now.
Kuzma is the last man standing of the Lakers' young stud triumvirate that includes Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, both of whom succumbed to season-ending injuries.
With virtually nothing to play for from here on out, the Lakers should just give Kuzma all he can eat for the rest of the season. Los Angeles is trying to prow away disgruntled star Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans. Kuzma could figure to be the major piece in the deal if his stock rises with an end-of-season tear.