Los Angeles Lakers rookie Kyle Kuzma was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team on Tuesday, the latest milestone in what has been a pleasantly surprising start to his NBA career.
However, following the announcement, Kuzma was quick to deflect any praise that came his way to head coach Luke Walton and the Lakers’ coaching staff, who he said had a huge hand in his successful rookie campaign.
“From day one they let me be who I am,” Kuzma said (via Lakers.com). “A lot of rookies that come into the league don’t have the type of leeway coach Walton and his staff really gave me.