Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson recognizes talent when he sees one, and that's something that he truly believes Kyle Kuzma has. The incoming third-year forward for the Los Angeles Lakers has surprised a lot of people in his first two seasons in the league, and Thompson believes that Kuz will even be better after his stint with Team USA, per LA Times' Arash Markazi.

“I know him playing for Team USA is going to pay huge dividends for him because that’s what it did for me. … That was the turning point in my career.”

Thompson made his debut for Team USA in the 2014 FIBA World Cup, and he became an All-Star one year later. He's also earned the reputation as one of the best shooters in the history of the league and has won three championships since.

Related NewsArticle continues below
Lakers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates his game winning shot
LeBron James’ MVP voting finish leaves Lakers fans in awe
A shadowy player in a LA Lakers jersey in the middle. Have LA Lakers player LeBron James on one side and LA Lakers player Luka Doncic on the other, starting center trade
The starting center Lakers must acquire after Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle shaming

There is no doubt that Kuzma has potential, but being able to shine in a roster that has LeBron James and Anthony Davis might prove to be difficult. Still, he has always played with a chip on his shoulder, so he will most probably be extremely motivated to prove himself to the rest of the league, especially after his Team USA stint.

The Lakers did everything in their power to not include Kuzma in any trade, which speaks volumes as to how confident they are in his abilities. If he continues to improve, he might just be the third star that the Lakers might need to win their first championship in nearly a decade.