“He’s Definitely The X-Factor”: NBA Veteran on Lakers Star Who Can Lead with LeBron James and Anthony Davis

The Los Angeles Lakers are one among the clear favorites to clinch the 2019-20 NBA championship. But besides LeBron James and Anthony Davis, there is another player in the team whose contribution is vital for the Lakers to find success inside the Orlando bubble. 

Upon entering the NBA bubble, the Lakers faced a huge blow as veteran Rajon Rondo sustained a fracture in his thumb. This just added to the existing woe of Avery Bradley’s unavailability to participate. 

However, the Lakers still sport a strong roster and are one of the well-balanced teams in the league. The two new signings Dion Waiters and J. R. Smith will be essential in putting in the minutes and getting crucial buckets for the Lakers. 

The team largely relies on LeBron James and Anthony Davis to step up and deliver once the season restarts. While we might feel the pair might be overburdened owing to the amount of faith placed upon them by the fans and their fellow teammates, there is one more player whose game is as crucial as LBJ’s and AD’s contribution. 

Jamal Crawford names the Los Angeles Lakers star who is an X-Factor

3x NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford recently signed with the Brooklyn Nets for the remainder of the season. The addition of the 40-year-old veteran might prove to be valuable for the Nets. Prior to his signing with the Nets, Crawford made an appearance on the Court Vision podcast where he discussed several topics ranging from his career to the NBA’s restart. 

At one point, Crawford and the host were discussing the Lakers’ strengths and the area of focus when they enter the playoffs. Obviously LeBron James will be in the main picture as he will be expected to average 30.0 points a game. However, Crawford also has another player in mind who can just propel the Lakers with his timely displays of magic. 

“Kuz is the guy who can generate offense other than LeBron or AD. He’s definitely the X-Factor,” Crawford mentioned. Moreover, Crawford also predicts a bright future for Kuzma is he successfully holds fort as the Lakers’ third guy, following LBJ and Davis. 

“If he proves he’s a consistent third-guy, different teams will come saying, ‘will you come be our first guy? You’re proving to be a championship level third-piece. You can definitely be a first piece if for us if you’re trying to build towards that.’”

Crawford has been around in the NBA for a long period now. He knows a bright young talent when he sees one. Kuzma has been averaging 12.5 points per game this season and seems to be developing as a consistent scorer. The 24-year-old is certainly one to look forward to the future.