‘Cant Maximise His Potential’: Jalen Rose Explains Why Kyle Kuzma Can’t Grow With the Los Angeles Lakers

With the NBA off season setting in, some big names are becoming free agents. Teams will try to grab such stars and form a team that can compete for the championship. One of the teams that will make moves is the Los Angeles Lakers. Ater a disappointing playoff run this season, they will look to move certain pieces around to bring in some serious talent.

One name the Lakers could move is Kyle Kuzma. Kuzma did not have a memorable season this year as put up just 6 points per game in 21 minutes in the playoff series against the Phoenix Suns.

Furthermore, he shot just 17% from deep. Now, LA and Kuzma may be parting ways this off season.

NBA analyst, Jalen Rose, spoke about the situation of Kyle Kuzma in LA. However, he had an interesting take on things for the player playing alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

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Jalen Rose says Kuzma can’t blossom with the Lakers

On a recent episode of Jalen and Jacoby, Jalen Rose said Kuzma could win championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. However, he claims that Kuz can not maximise his potential as a player if he plays in LA. This is because LeBron, AD and Kuzma can not coexist on the floor, and Kuz will not get a lot of minutes. Rose said:

“He can be a champion in LA, but he can’t maximise his potential just by the sheer geometry of their lineup. LeBron James and Anthony Davis are gonna play the lion share of the minutes up front. And you can’t have all three of those guys really on the floor. Therefore, he is not gonna be able to score the kind of buckets that he has the potential to score.” 

However, Rose did say that it is a valuable experience to share the court with LeBron James and Anthony Davis and also play for the Lakers. But for Kyle Kuzma as a young player who is capable of playing well, it is not the right destination. This is because it will hamper his own progress due to lack of minutes.

Kyle Kuzma’s potential

Kuzma has been averaging just 12 points per game since Anthony Davis joined the Lakers. However, that is certainly not his true potential. He averaged 16 points per game in his rookie season. Moreover, he averaged a career high 18 points in his sophomore year.

In addition, Kuzma is regarded as a really good shooter. He has consistently shot over 30% from deep throughout his career. There is a reason Kuzma stayed with the Lakers while they traded the rest of the young core to the Pelicans. He has shown glimpses of his potential with the Lakers.

To conclude, Kuzma may not be a centerpiece of an organisation right now. But, with an increase in play time and more game experience, he can surely develop into a star. Where do you want to see Kuzma next season?

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