Kyle Kuzma had some things to get off his chest after finishing another season with the Los Angeles Lakers. When he vowed to get better, Kuz couldn’t get the job done, earning a lot of criticism from fans.
This offseason might be his last as a Laker, but the forward isn’t worried about that. He believes he can be way more important for his team as long as he gets the chance to play a consistent role.
Talking with Tyler Conway of Bleacher Report, Kuzma stated he can make an impact on the team. However, that can’t happen if he keeps switching roles on the court.
“My biggest thing is I just want to play within a consistent role,” Kuzma said. “If I have that ability, I’ll be able to showcase what I can really do. There were parts of this year—and even anywhere else in my career—when I’m in a consistent space, I’m out there handling the ball, making teammates better, scoring, shooting, defending, rebounding. I think if I’m in that space, I’ll be good.”
Things have changed for him since he entered the league. His role with the Lakers has decreased, and he’s frustrated with that. Kuzma seemingly took a shot at his coach, saying he must have a consistent role to unlock his potential.
“I definitely can. I definitely believe that, too. I don’t really care what nobody thinks or says. I know myself, and I know my ability. It’s hard to be consistent in an inconsistent role. I’m excited for a more consistent space next year,” Kuzma said.
“I’ve done a great job every offseason of trying to build something and add something to my game. I’ve turned myself into a great defender. My rookie year, I was a stop sign on defense. I didn’t really stop anybody. Now, whether it’s elite wings, 4 men, even point guards and shooting guards, I have the ability to guard four positions now and really affect the game on that end of the court.”
Players complaining about their roles on the team has become a thing within the Lakers organization. A couple of days ago, Andre Drummond said he could have dominated like Brook Lopez or Deandre Ayton if Frank Vogel gave him more minutes on the court.
Other players like Montrezl Harrell and Marc Gasol showed their discomfort with their playing time during the season. This offseason will present a lot of questions for the Lakers. They must make the right moves to compete in the Western Conference. Perhaps Kuzma will be one of the changes the team makes ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.
