Astute fans may have noticed that new Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma has something different about him with his new team.
KUZ 😎@kylekuzma | @Ticketmaster pic.twitter.com/JfsWAyGlPb
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) August 7, 2021
Yep, you guessed it: Kuzma changed his number! After donning number 0 for the Los Angeles Lakers for his entire career, Kuzma made the switch to number 33 in his Wizards stint. The reason, according to him, is a particular Wizards hero to him: Gilbert Arenas.
Kuzma said that he discarded his old number to honor Arenas, also known as Agent Zero. Per NBC Sports Washington,
“Out of respect for Gilbert Arenas… That was probably one of the biggest things. When you think of the Washington Wizards, honestly the first person I think of, because my generation, is Gilbert Arenas, Agent Zero. Obviously, that played a big part, and having a fresh start. I just felt it was right.”
Arenas, during his six-year stint with the Wizards, was an electrifying presence on the court. He averaged 25 points per game for the squad, leading those teams to success during the 2000s. However, Arenas was also known on his time there for some interesting off-court shenanigans. He infamously pulled out a gun in the Wizards locker room one time.
Despite his antics off the court, it's clear that Agent Zero has had a major impact on the current generation. That includes Kuzma, who is also using this number swap as a reset on his career. He had a pretty successful stint with the Lakers, helping them win a championship in 2020. Now, Kyle Kuzma looking to put that behind him, and he wants to help the Wizards find success along with Bradley Beal, who has been stepping up as the team's leader.
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