Kyle Kuzma wasn’t supposed to amount to much in the NBA. He wasn’t particularly thought of as a great prospect, as evidenced by the fact that he was the 27th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. In fact, Kuzma was traded right away by the Brooklyn Nets on draft night to the Los Angeles Lakers, and they clearly didn’t see him amounting to much.
Kuzma, though ended up shining as a rookie for the Lakers and ended up winning a title with the team in 2020. The Lakers eventually traded him to the Washington Wizards as part of a package for Russell Westbrook, and they probably regret it a lot now. He has played well for the Wizards and is now a hot trade commodity with multiple teams interested in his services. None of this was supposed to happen after he declared for the 2017 NBA Draft, as almost everyone back then didn’t think he would make it to the league.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo29RpAX_yA
“I wasn’t supposed to be drafted. Like I got drafted 27 because I was killing in workouts, I was killing the Combine. You know the Under Advisory Committee, right? You call them right before you decide, okay do I want to test the waters? Do I want to declare? Do I want to come back?”
“They call me and they go, ‘Okay so we got your feedback. 19 NBA teams believe that you should be picked around 50 to 60 and then the other 11 said that you would go undrafted. So, take this information with what you want.’ Because I had another year of eligibility but I was graduating. I was like, ‘Why the hell am I in school right now?’ I just got a degree, that make no damn sense to go back to school. I know I’m way better than 50, 60 people. I got to be, right?”
“So I go out, I test it, I tell my coach I’m leaving. Everybody’s like, ‘Yo, you’re making a terrible mistake. Nobody thinks you get drafted. Why don’t you come back? Potentially be a first round pick.’ I said, ‘Coach I’m out of here bro.’ For me, I just had this blind confidence in myself.”
Kuzma’s story shows just how big of an impact good displays during workouts and the Combine can have. He went from no team even considering him with the first 50 picks to going in the first round, which is incredible. You also need to sometimes have that blind confidence that he had there to reach the top when it comes to professional sports.
Kyle Kuzma Is Unlikely To Stay With The Wizards
We spoke earlier about teams being interested in Kuzma, and NBA insider Marc Stein says Kuzma is quite gettable before the deadline and is unlikely to stay with the Wizards. The Lakers are rumored to have inquired about him, as they seem to be interested in a reunion
Kuzma could provide some help to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but the question would once again arise just to what extent he could shine, playing third fiddle to them. He stated that he was a shell of himself when he played behind the stars on the Lakers, and he would be walking back into the same situation if he returns. Maybe things could work out better this time around, but it certainly isn’t a slam dunk of a move by any means.
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