Lakers Podcast: Kyle Kuzma’s Team USA Performance, Potential Third All-Star Player

Trevor Lane
2 Min Read
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Kuzma knows what it’s like to be the underdog as after falling to the Los Angeles Lakers with the No. 27 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, he quickly set out to make all the teams who passed on him regret their decision.

For the past two seasons, he has provided the Lakers with a real scoring threat both inside and outside while thriving in the Los Angeles spotlight that so many others have found uncomfortable.

Now, as Kuzma fights to earn a spot on Team USA heading into the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, the sole survivor of the team’s young core hopes to prove that he can become the third All-Star player the team failed to land in free agency.

On this episode of the Lakers Nation Podcast, host Trevor Lane discusses Kuzma’s performance in limited action during Team USA’s scrimmage in Las Vegas, then dives into his skill set to decipher whether or not he has the makeup of a third All-Star player. While Kuzma’s versatility on both ends of the floor are intriguing, he does still have a number of holes in his game that he will need to work on if he hopes to reach his lofty goals.

That said, one of the most impressive things about Kuzma is his mentality. He has the drive and desire to be an All-Star player in the NBA and isn’t afraid of the bright lights of Los Angeles. Sometimes, on the road to greatness, mentality can be the difference between completing the journey and sputtering out well short of the destination.

His third season in the NBA could be a telling one for Kuzma. Will he step up and make the leap towards stardom or does he top out as a high-level role player?

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Trevor Lane is a longtime NBA and Los Angeles Lakers fan who had the good fortune to grow up during the glory days of the Showtime Lakers, when Magic Johnson, Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and the rest ruled the Great Western Forum. He has written about basketball, soccer, fantasy sports, MMA, and even pro wrestling over the course of his career, but the spectacle that is the Lakers is his true passion. He made the leap into podcasting for Lakers Nation and provides voice-over analysis for our YouTube channel. With a who's who of stars gracing the Lakers lineup over the years, including Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol, and many others, the Lakers always provide plenty to talk about. When he isn't writing or recording, Trevor can be found spending time with his wife and daughter or on the sidelines for one of the youth teams he coaches. Outside of the Lakers, Trevor is a supporter of the LA Galaxy, US Soccer, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Contact: trevor@mediumlargela.com
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