Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma missed the entire preseason and the first four games of the regular season with a stress reaction in his foot but he is beginning to find his way in his new role as a sixth man.
The Lakers are on fire but all teams have room for improvement and Kuzma, who they expect to play a major role in the offense as he’s their third-best player, is still getting used to coming off the bench, which is normal.
Kuzma did not expect to be their sixth man after starting 68 of his 70 games last season and he has lacked patience, he wants to break through now.
“No. I’m not patient at all,” Kuzma told Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times after Wednesday’s 114-110 win against the Pelicans. “That’s why sometimes it’s hard.”
He had 16 points, five rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes off the bench in New Orleans and he will be a huge piece of the puzzle for the Lakers this season. His numbers are down but it is a result of having less playing time.
The 24-year-old averaged 18.7 points over 33.1 minutes last year and this season he is averaging a career-low 11.7 points in 22.6 minutes. Getting used to playing less has been tough for him but he is doing his part so far, making 45.8 percent of his shots, 35.7 percent of his 3-point attempts and 77.8 percent of his free-throws.
“It’s tough sometimes, but you just have to be positive, have an even-keeled mind-set. But that’s easier said than done,” Kuzma said. “It’s something I’ve got to kind of figure out. But it isn’t anything I can’t handle.”
Kyle Kuzma knows that it’s all “part of sacrifice and trying to be on a winning team.” I can see Kuzma thriving in this new role as the games pass and the Lakers need him to play at a high level whenever he comes into the game.
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