The Los Angeles Lakers once considered versatile forward Kyle Kuzma the most important player in their young talent pool. At least, that’s what they believed when they fought to keep him in their Anthony Davis trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. Alongside Davis and LeBron James, Kuzma was forced to shape his game if he wanted to make an impact.
In one season, Kuzma managed to do this with an exceptional degree of success. He went from a power forward who focused on scoring to a versatile wing. Those skills earned him a big payday after the Lakers eventually traded Kuzma to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Russell Westbrook.
The Lakers and their fans fondly remember Kuzma’s early years with the team, as well as his massive contributions to the 2020 NBA championship team. But it’s Kuzma who considers this one of the most vital stages of his life for his development at all levels, via Nicole Ganglani of SB Nation:
“Everything: how to be a pro. How to motivate people, how to work, how to be a businessman, so many things. And I think that was one of the most important times in my life: to step back and really observe and learn. And I think everything I did then, I do now, and I try to pass it on to others.”
Arguably, Kuzma’s greatest strides as a player came during this 2019-20 season. The way he adapted his game to the team’s needs was something that had already raised concerns. He didn’t fit in alongside Davis and James early on, but he ended up being part of some of the team’s best lineups by the end.
His growth as a player seems to match the growth he feels off the court. He’s grown as a person, as a businessman and so much more, as he puts it. And that growth has helped him become a leader, an asset he’s now using to help a young Wizards team stay afloat.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis ranked among NBA 2K25’s top 10 players
With the start of the season fast approaching, NBA 2K25 has begun rolling out player ratings for its new video game.
The Lakers enter the 2024-25 season with the same starting backcourt of D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves. That’s not a bad position to be in, as NBA 2K25 has both of them ranked in the top 100 players, with a rating of 81.
They are the third and fourth highest rated players on the Lakers, of course behind James and DavisThey both fall out of the top 10 as James will be rated 95 and Davis just behind him at 94.
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