While the Los Angeles Lakers have held top picks in each of the last four drafts, their selections in the late-first round and second round have netted positive results. Kyle Kuzma, selected 27th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, is the latest example.
He shined in Las Vegas Summer League, earning MVP honors in the championship game, and he carried that success into preseason play and now the regular season. Kuzma, more so than fellow rookie Lonzo Ball, has been the Lakers’ standout player thus far.
Following in the footsteps of Brandon Ingram and other young Lakers in recent years, Kuzma took advantage of a rich franchise history by meeting with Kobe Bryant.