Kyle Kuzma was at the receiving end of ridicule during his time with the LA Lakers, especially during the 2021-22 NBA season. He failed to become the third scoring option for the team but seems to have found his form with the Washington Wizards.
Kuz was the star of the show in the Wizards’ last outing against the Cleveland Cavaliers, finishing the game with 22 points and five rebounds. On a night where Bradley Beal and Spencer Dinwiddie struggled, the Lakers alumni was the bright spot for the team, knocking down two clutch three-pointers to guarantee the victory for the Wizards.
When asked what inspired his performance, Kuz stated that he saw a sign that read, “Without LeBron, Kuzma wouldn’t have a ring.” He replied, “Cleveland wouldn’t be s**t without LeBron”, then went on a scoring spree.
Kyle Kuzma said hecklers motivated him, that the ending was "their fault."
He said it was Cavs fans had a sign that said "Without LeBron, Kuzma wouldn't have a ring." He told them: "Cleveland wouldn't be shit without LeBron."
— Chase Hughes (@chasedcsports) November 11, 2021
It was an indeed inspiring performance for Kuzma, who single-handedly outscored the Cavs 12-7 with under to win the game. He knocked down four of his three-point attempts late in the game, finishing with 22 points, five rebounds, an assist, a block, and a steal.
At the end of the game, Kuz walked up to the fan and autographed his signage, saying “It’s your fault.”
The Wizards won the game 97-94 despite being down by nine points with under six minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Although Kuzma’s clutch performance was the highlight of the game, fellow ex-Laker was also dominant in the game. Montrezl Harrell, who was starved of minutes during his time with the purple and gold has been sensational for the Wizards since the start of the season.
Wizards improve to 8-3 after big nights from the former Lakers 💪🏽
Montrezl Harrell: Kyle Kuzma:
24 points 22 points
11 rebounds 5 rebounds
3 assists 1 steal
2 steals 1 block pic.twitter.com/yaQNfvO3cN
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 11, 2021
Harrell is the second-best scorer on the team behind Bradley Beal, despite starting only two games in the team’s 11 outings. The 2020 NBA Sixth Man of the Year is showing how productive he can be when given time on the floor.
It is somewhat of a bittersweet experience for the Lakers fans who will be gutted to see these sorts of performances from these players only after their departure. Nonetheless, it is beautiful to see Kuz transcend his game to new levels. The 27th overall pick of the 2017 NBA draft also deserves kudos for his thick skin, as he has been able to rise above all the criticisms and produce at an efficient clip for his new team.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-cVQhyBvw0
