2017-18 NBA Rookie of the Year ladder: Week 16 power rankings

3. Kyle Kuzma, Los Angeles Lakers

Last week: 6th (↑3)

Los Angeles Lakers rookie Kyle Kuzma climbs back into the top three after a masterful performance against the Boston Celtics. The Lakers are without Lonzo Ball, but that hasn’t stopped them from finding ways to win.

Kuzma put up 28 points in a 108-107 victory over the Boston Celtics back on Tuesday night. Seventeen of Kuzma’s points came in the fourth quarter. He was 10-of-16 from the floor and 5-for-7 from 3-point land in the game. Despite Kyrie Irving putting up 12 points himself, the Lakers rode Kuzma’s offensive outburst to victory.

Los Angeles has won four of its last five games without Ball in the rotation. His impact has been hard to deny and so has Kyle Kuzma’s. Kuzma is still figuring things out defensively but if he can score like he did against Boston, it’ll be hard to keep him off the floor.