New Year’s resolutions for the Los Angeles Lakers
By Amaar Burton
4. Kyle Kuzma: Figure out where you fit in
When newly-signed DeMarcus Cousins went down with a torn ACL in August, there wasn’t too much panic among Laker Nation.
That was in large part because Kyle Kuzma was right there to theoretically fill in whatever void Cousins left as the No. 3 in L.A.’s “Big 3” with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Kuzma was the Los Angeles Lakers’ second-leading scorer last season, averaging 18.7 points per game. That included a career-best 41-point effort against the Detroit Pistons in January and six other instances where he topped 30 points. The 24-year-old forward looked like star in the making.
When the Lakers traded three players and three future draft picks to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Davis in the offseason, Kuzma was the one foundation piece L.A. insisted on keeping.
While the new-look Lakers have thrived, Kuzma hasn’t lived up to expectations.
He began this season sidelined by a foot injury and after his delayed debut was limited to single-digit scoring in three of his first four games. Kuzma is now averaging 11.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game through Christmas Day. While his 36.3 3-point percentage is up from last season, he is shooting a career-low 43.8 percent from the field.
Kuzma needs to figure out where he fits in on this team.
He was a full-time starter at power forward last season, but now he’s the sixth man thanks to Davis occupying the 4 spot. Last season, Kuzma played 33.1 minutes per game. This season, he’s down to 23.2 minutes.
Kuzma is the Lakers’ third-leading scorer, as expected. He is the only player other than Davis and LeBron averaging double figures in scoring, which is also not a surprise.
But Kuzma’s development as a pro had suggested he would be putting up closer to 20 points per game right now rather than 10 points per game.
Kyle Kuzma's per/36 numbers his first 3 seasons (yr 3 is 20 games):
— Darius Soriano (@forumbluegold) December 10, 2019
YR1: 18.6Pts 45% FG, 36.6% 3FG, 3.1 FTA @ 70.7%, 7.2Reb, 2.1Ast
YR2: 20.3Pts, 45.6%FG, 30.3% 3FG, 3.9FTA @ 75.2%, 5.9Reb, 2.8Ast
YR3: 17.3Pts, 43.3%FG, 36% 3FG, 3FTA @ 69.2%, 5.3Reb, 1.3AST
He's doing fine.
Is Kuzma really the third “star” on the Lakers? Or is he just another role player who happens to make a few more shots than the rest?
Should Kuzma be in the starting lineup? Or is his niche as a Sixth Man of the Year candidate?
Is he a shooter? Or is he a scorer?
Figuring out the answers to those questions would make Kuzma even more valuable for the Lakers and more dangerous to the opponents who have to face him.