Kyle Kuzma is what you call the last piece of that Lakers’ young core that didn’t last long until LeBron James arrived in Los Angeles back in 2018. The young player received a lot of criticism for underperforming when he was expected to step up and become the third star on the team behind James and Anthony Davis. None of that happened and the man earned a lot of bad comments for his bad performances.
This year things have changed and Kuz is showing a different face. He’s actually doing well with the Lakers and now with the absence of AD, he could have more responsibilities on the court. He has improved his defense in recent games and people have noticed that. When asked about his improvements, Kuz explained he can’t be a ‘zombie’ like he was last season.
“I gotta figure out ways just to do other things and not be a zombie on the court like I was a lot last year.”
Kyle Kuzma has answered this question before, but not sure I've seen him answer it this way. When asked about his improved defense/rebounding: "I gotta figure out ways just to do other things and not be a zombie on the court like I was a lot last year."
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) February 19, 2021
https://www.instagram.com/p/CLfiXhhDfWt
The Lakers expect a lot from him. He wasn’t shipped to New Orleans in the Anthony Davis blockbuster trade for a reason and the team wants to see their bet paying off. LeBron James recently challenged Kuz to be part of something special instead of pursuing numbers and that has resounded in Kuz’s head.
Now he’s one of the best players on the team and his level can get better this season. The Lakers need all the help they can get to win back-to-back titles and Kuz could have a big role in their championship quest this year.
