LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are going through some growing pains at the moment. But the purple and gold alumni have been showing out for their new teams, including the oft-maligned Kyle Kuzma.

Kuz was the butt of a handful of jokes as fell short of being the third star the Lakers needed between LeBron and Anthony Davis. But with the LA spotlight no longer shining on him with the Washington Wizards, he's been able to thrive.

He showed exactly that in their latest win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Down by four with under 30 seconds left in the game, the former Lakers prospect sank two clutch threes to steal the win for the Wizards.

Even LeBron James had to give Kyle Kuzma his props. The Lakers star gave his stamp of approval to the game-winning triple from Kuz.

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Kyle Kuzma is straight-up balling in his first 11 games with the Wizards. He's averaged 14.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game while making some timely baskets for his new ball club.

He's not the only former Lakers role player balling out in Washington. Montrezl Harrell is posting 18.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest while looking like the dominant Sixth Man of the Year winner we saw on the Los Angeles Clippers two years ago.

The success garnered by both Kuz and Trez in new situations, along with other guys like Alex Caruso and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, has certainly been bittersweet for Lakers fans. You love to see your former fan favorites thriving, but it stings that it has to happen elsewhere.