The Wizards may well sink in the standings in the East, because of their series of nine consecutive defeats, Kyle Kuzma take the opportunity, however, to show themselves in their best light and display a sparkling form in the capital.
With 21.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists on average, 46% on shots and 34% at 3-pts, the 27-year-old winger is having the best season of his career. What arouse the interest of several teams, while the trade deadline will take place in two months.
Among the interested franchises, there would also be the Lakerswhere Kyle Kuzma revealed himself between 2017 and 2021. Winning a championship title in 2020, before being transferred against a certain Russell Westbrook a year and a half ago now…
” It just proves that the grass isn’t always greener elsewhere… », does he slip about this rumor, probably still a little bitter about being traded. ” In the end, it’s obviously a good thing, because it means that I played well and that I have value in this league, to the point that a team wants to set up a trade to get me back. It is a privilege. »
A vague and difficult role to accept
Of course, Kyle Kuzma does not forget that his adventure in Los Angeles did not end on a high note. Less and less influential over the seasons and unable to establish himself as the third offensive option of the “Purple & Gold”, he never managed to emerge from the shadow of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
” It was difficult to be the ‘little brother’ of the team “, he admits, about his role at the time. ” One night, you could shoot 10 times. The next night, we might just need you to grab some rebounds. The night after, you could play 15 minutes, then 29 minutes the next time… You never knew anything. […] I could be frustrated quite a few nights, because I really wanted it. Those who know me know that I am very competitive and that I love basketball. So it bothered me a lot of times that I never got the chance to do what I do now: play, be myself. »
Always very close to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, with whom he admits to communicating regularly on social networks, Kyle Kuzma keeps to this day a rather mixed memory of his stay in California.
” I think it was one of the best things that happened to me to be drafted, to be a Laker, to have this exposure, that millions of people know you. That comes with playing the Lakers. Then learn from LeBron [James] and win a title… Everything was great “, he says to begin with, before qualifying. ” At the same time, I always look back and wish I had been seen better, given my role and all that I sacrificed. It’s good to sacrifice, because it’s the only way to win titles, everyone has to go through it. But I don’t think I’ve ever been on the right side of the table. Afterwards, nothing happens by chance and I am now in Washington, where I have been able to expand my game and flourish. »
Free agent in July?
As he puts it so well, Kyle Kuzma then landed in Washington and, the good news of this story, is that he was brought back to the statistics worthy of his first two years in the league (17.3 points average between 2017 and 2019).
” I needed it [de ce changement d’air] “, he judges with hindsight. ” This change was so important in my life, it just made me more mature. I love basketball, but I love it even more now. I love my job, I love going to training every day, being in the gym, being in this kind of situation. Seeing how good I can be has made me obsessed with trying to get better, over and over again. »
Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. in any case hopes that Kyle Kuzma will stay in the capital beyond the trade deadline. And why not beyond this summer, because remember that the 27th choice of the 2017 Draft will have the opportunity to test the market in the coming months and that he should not miss the opportunity to do so, in order to win more. Whatever the destination.
Hence the risk for the team who will wish to recover him in the coming weeks to see him leave without compensation, almost in stride. But given their collective situation, the leaders of Washington should not dare to keep their player too long either, to take advantage of his now fairly high popularity rating.
| Kyle Kuzma | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2017-18 | ALL | 77 | 31 | 45.0 | 36.6 | 70.7 | 1.1 | 5.1 | 6.3 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 16.1 |
| 2018-19 | ALL | 70 | 33 | 45.6 | 30.3 | 75.2 | 0.9 | 4.6 | 5.5 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 18.7 |
| 2019-20 | ALL | 61 | 25 | 43.6 | 31.6 | 73.5 | 0.9 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 12.8 |
| 2020-21 | ALL | 68 | 29 | 44.3 | 36.1 | 69.1 | 1.6 | 4.5 | 6.1 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 12.9 |
| 2021-22 | WAS | 66 | 33 | 45.2 | 34.1 | 71.2 | 1.1 | 7.4 | 8.5 | 3.5 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 17.1 |
| 2022-23 | WAS | 28 | 35 | 46.2 | 34.3 | 69.2 | 1.0 | 6.4 | 7.5 | 3.6 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 21.4 |
| Total | 370 | 31 | 45.0 | 33.9 | 72.0 | 1.1 | 5.2 | 6.3 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 16.0 | |
