The Los Angeles Lakers will only go as far as LeBron James takes them. James, who turned 36 in December, is currently leading the MVP race, as he leads his team to a 17-6 record in the West.
But L.A.’s success can’t be credited to him alone. Besides Anthony Davis, Kyle Kuzma is a guy who has made a positive impact for the team this season, and people are taking notice.
In a chat with the media, Frank Vogel discussed how important Kuz has been for the club, and the unique aspect he brings to the court…
“Kuz is going out and killing it. He’s been a star in his role, him playing as hard as he does on both ends of the floor. Guys don’t always have that ability to play hard like that naturally. You don’t have to pull it out of Kuz,” Vogel told Mike Trudell of Spectrum of Sportsnet.
Frank Vogel on @kylekuzma: "Kuz is going out and killing it. He’s been a star in his role, him playing as hard as he does on both ends of the floor. Guys don’t always have that ability to play hard like that naturally. You don’t have to pull it out of Kuz."
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) February 5, 2021
Despite his shortcomings on defense, Kuzma is an important player for the Lakers. He brings energy and offensive firepower off the bench, two things that Vogel seems to highly value.
Unfortunately, there are some who worry that he’s trending in the wrong direction. With season averages of 9.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game, he’s seeing career-low marks across the board.
The hope is that he can bounce back and become the player many believe he can be. The Lakers seem especially confident in what he brings to the table…
