Kyle Kuzma’s rise with the Lakers from a surprise first-round draft pick to an NBA champion quickly made him a fan-favorite. Beginning with a breakout Summer League performance, Kuzma established himself as a key piece of the Lakers young core.
His connection to the fans grew after he was the lone youngster not included in the Anthony Davis trade. His reinvention from microwave scorer on a lottery team to glue guy role player on a championship team was one of the best stories for the Lakers when they reached the apex inside the bubble in 2020.