“You’re playing with one of the all-time greats as LeBron” - Kyle Kuzma explains why playing for LA Lakers is “drama-filled”
Former LA Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma offered some interesting insight into what it is like to play for the Purple and Gold. Joining the crew of "NBA Today", Kuzma revealed the pressure and the scrutiny that comes with being a Laker.
Kyle Kuzma was one of the most promising youngsters that the Purple and Gold acquired from the draft. After making an impression in his rookie season, Kuzma quickly became a fan-favorite in the city of LA.
Although Kuzma appeared to be a star early in his career, the youngster sacrificed a lot to fulfill his role for the team's success. This eventually paid off as he emerged as an essential role player during the team's title run.
While Kuzma was a favorite among the Lakers faithful, his time with the team was short. When the Purple and Gold fell upon hard times after their title run, the organization traded the forward to the Washington Wizards to acquire Russell Westbrook.
Since being traded last season, Kuzma has been fairly solid in Washington. However, the same can't be said for the LA Lakers as a franchise.
Kuzma was asked to speak on the matter during his appearance on "NBA Today". When asked about his thoughts on the team this season, Kuzma responded:
"I watch basketball a lot, especially last year, because it was my first year getting traded. I probably watched every Laker game. I haven't really watched too much this year, I might have seen a couple. But, things are definitely drastically different over there, for sure."
He continued:
"It's got a lot going on. When you’re playing in a big market, you’re playing in L.A., you’re always going to have a lot of drama.You’re playing with one of the all-time greats as LeBron, it’s gonna add even more drama,” Kuzma said. “You have to fight through it. You have to be strong-minded.”
"I probably watched every Laker game [last year]. I haven't really watched too much this year. Things are drastically different for sure... When you're playing in LA, you're always going to have a lot of drama."
Kyle Kuzma on the Lakers
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Kuzma highlighted the difficulties a role player may face in a market like LA. Considering the weight of expectations from the fans, he mentioned that being a role player can be mentally challenging because of all the "white noise" around.
The lights and glamor of LA can be particularly distracting in this regard. Kuzma's comments hold a lot of value when considering the manner in which the pressure has affected different players.
Also Read: "How people perceived me...It kind of hurt me a little bit” – Former NBA champion reveals it was awful to face the narratives regarding his trade from Lakers, says he was hurt and retreated to 'dark place'
The burden of playing for the LA Lakers
The LA Lakers may not be a great team this season. However, they are not to be considered an ordinary franchise by any means. Given their history in the NBA and the sheer dominance displayed in every era, the Lakers remain one of the most iconic franchises in the sport.
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This aspect of the team has had a massive influence on how players perform. The scrutiny and noise that Kyle Kuzma referred to earlier is part of the burden that players have to bear when donning the Purple and Gold.
Drama happens to be something that follows as the Lakers have always been served by the biggest names in the game. With eyes constantly following every move, the LA Lakers, as a whole, are always under the microscope.
Needless to say, not every player is capable of coping with this. As seen with Russell Westbrook during his first season and several players this season as well, the LA Lakers have failed to cope with the pressure.
Whether the team adapts to this in due time is yet to be seen. However, the team is far from being competitive at the moment.