Many of the biggest names in the world of sports were roped in for the inaugural Fanatics Fest in Javits Center in NYC and Kyle Kuzma was one of them. Kuzma played knockout basketball games with some young fans at the event and one of them surprisingly managed to beat him as well.
An unforgettable memory for this fan vs. @kylekuzma at #FanaticsFest! 🤝 pic.twitter.com/ultPDwbHII
— NBA (@NBA) August 17, 2024
Kuzma wasn’t trying his hardest, of course, but that will remain an unforgettable memory for that fan. The Washington Wizards forward didn’t try to ruin that moment by being salty either and I give him props for that. Some players certainly would have been a bit miffed, even if they weren’t taking it too seriously.
While this was the highlight of the day for the kid, Kuzma’s was his entrance. It was in WWE style as he walked in with Shawn Michael’s theme song playing in the background and had a Wizards title belt on him.
Sadly that probably will be the only championship Kuzma holds as long as he is with the Wizards. The 29-year-old had the best season of his career in 2023-24, averaging 22.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game, but the team finished with a woeful 15-67 record.
It doesn’t seem as if the Wizards will be turning things around anytime soon either despite drafting Alex Sarr with the second pick of the 2024 NBA Draft and you wonder how long Kuzma stays with the franchise. He signed a four-year, $90 million deal in 2023 and I certainly don’t see him sticking around for the duration of that contract.
A Young Fan Scored On Paolo Banchero At The Fanatics Fest
Kuzma wasn’t the only NBA player to see a kid get the better of them at the Fanatics Fest. A young fan managed to score on Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero too.
Scoring on Paolo?? The Kid’s got moves #FanaticsFest pic.twitter.com/KbiqEQGLmI
— Fanatics (@Fanatics) August 16, 2024
While Banchero wasn’t trying his hardest like Kuzma, that was a great move from the kid. It sure does look like some talented ones showed up for this fest, which runs from August 16 to 18.
I mentioned earlier that a championship with the Wizards looks highly unlikely for Kuzma, but the same can’t be said for Banchero with the Magic. With him leading the way, they were the fifth seed in the East last season with a 47-35 record.
Banchero averaged 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game in the campaign and was named an All-Star for the first time in his career. It certainly hasn’t taken the 21-year-old, who was selected with the first pick of the 2022 NBA Draft, too long to establish himself as one of the rising stars in the league.
If the Magic can surround Banchero with more talent, he might one day lead them to the promised land. He believes they already have enough, though, as Banchero stated the Magic are contenders in the East with the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, and New York Knicks.
You admire the confidence, but this team isn’t there just yet. The Magic made a fine addition this offseason in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, but they need more to get the better of the heavyweights in their conference in the playoffs.
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