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Los Angeles Lakers: 10 best power forwards in team history

By Amaar Burton

DALLAS, TX - MARCH 12: Kobe Bryant #24 and Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers react after a 96-91 win against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on March 12, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 12: Kobe Bryant #24 and Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers react after a 96-91 win against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on March 12, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 23: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots over Cheick Diallo #13 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at the Smoothie King Center on February 23, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 23: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots over Cheick Diallo #13 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at the Smoothie King Center on February 23, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

10. Kyle Kuzma (2017-present)

At the rate he is progressing, Kyle Kuzma could easily move up this list sooner than later.

When Kuzma was chosen by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft, he wasn’t even considered the team’s best rookie.

That label went to No. 2 overall pick Lonzo Ball, the flashy point guard from UCLA whom Lakers’ then-president Magic Johnson seemed to view as the second coming of himself.

Kuzma was just a guy from Utah who wasn’t known to much of the mainstream audience. It didn’t take long for him to show that he could actually be the steal of his rookie class. He topped 30 points in four games as a rookie, then did it seven times in Year 2.

That included a career-high 41 points in a January win over the Detroit Pistons.

Kuzma has averaged 17.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game in his two pro seasons.

He was voted to the All-Rookie First Team, and when the Lakers set out to trade whoever they could to bring in Anthony Davis this summer, Kuzma was deemed more important to keep than Ball or another former No. 2 pick, Brandon Ingram.

It remains to be seen how Kuzma will be used alongside Davis in the lineup. They are both natural power forwards, but Davis can also play center and Kuzma can also play small forward.

LeBron happens to be listed at small forward, however there’s some talk that LeBron could move to point guard.

Whether Kuzma starts or comes off the bench as a sixth man, whether he’s slotted at the 4 or the 3 position, he will be expected to step up and be the No. 3 scoring option on a team that is competing for a championship.

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