The Lakers’ confidence in Kyle Kuzma had never wavered, especially from his more decorated teammates LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
As Kuzma looked for more evidence that his two All-Star brothers and his coaching staff had confidence ahead of the third year, he found it Monday night when the Lakers’ game against the Denver Nuggets hung in balance.
They all believed enough in Kuzma to make the definitive play for him and for James and Davis to be willing partners when the drama unfolded at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Fla.
With the score tied and 4.5 seconds left, coach Frank Vogel pulled a play for Kuzma to take the winning shot. James ran the ball in to Davis, who waited until the defense pulled to a cutting James. Kuzma curled up behind the three-point line, accepting a pass from Davis and drilling a three-pointer with four tenths of a second left to give the Lakers a 124-121 lead that stood for the win.
When the game was over and the Lakers ended a losing streak of three games, James was asked if Kuzma had done even more to earn the team’s confidence.
“Nah, no,” said James, “he deserved it.”
James and Kuzma have been teammates for two years and the two have developed a sibling.
“Kuz is a confident young boy, a confident young man and I’m glad he’s on our side,” James said in a video call following Monday night’s win. ‘You have that confidence and he goes out and just plays. He has worked a lot. Like I said, he’s still young, it’s crazy, he’s only in his third year. But he has gotten better. His game starts to slow down. He begins to see the game at a pace that works not only for himself, but for our team. Trusted player and you have to have the confidence to make such a shot and make it. ”
In seven games in the bubble – two of these starts – Kuzma averaged 15.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 28.4 minutes a game. He shoots 46.3% from the field and 44.4% from the three-point line. Its plus-minus rating is plus-1.9.
His 25 points in a starting role against the Nuggets was his best offer in the bubble.
“He’s always been confident, like you said,” Davis said via video conference late Monday night. ‘He’s not afraid to take or make big shoes, as you can see tonight. He wants to keep the best player on the floor. He wants to take on the challenges. He has been great to us all year. He comes in his rhythm at both ends of the floor. Like I said, he will be huge for us, especially in the playoffs. ‘
In 61 games this season, Kuzma is third on the team in scoring (12.8 points), and ranks behind Davis (26.1) and James (25.5). Kuzma kicks 43.6% from the field and 31.6% from three-point range.
And along the way, his confidence has grown, and so has the confidence of his teammates in him.
“Every time we put that play into practice, I got shot,” Kuzma said Monday night. ‘That they would just come to me. Of course, the play, nine out of 10 times, goes to LeBron. But you know, [Vogel] called my number, and it’s all about trust.”
