Download our Free Mobile App!
Faster with Fewer Ads

Download
Lakers Nation
  • Rumors
  • Schedule
    • 2024-2025 regular season
    • 2024 preseason
  • Videos
    • YouTube
    • Podcast
  • FAQ
  • About
    • About Lakers Nation
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
  • Download Our App

Download our Free Mobile App!
Faster with Fewer Ads

Download
Lakers Nation
  • Rumors
  • Schedule
    • 2024-2025 regular season
    • 2024 preseason
  • Videos
    • YouTube
    • Podcast
  • FAQ
  • About
    • About Lakers Nation
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
  • Download Our App
Search
  • Rumors
  • Schedule
    • 2024 preseason
    • 2024-2025 regular season
  • Videos
    • YouTube
    • Podcast
  • FAQ
  • About
    • About Lakers Nation
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
  • Download Our App
Follow US
© 2024 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Lakers Nation > Blog > Lakers News > Lakers News: Kyle Kuzma Mindful Of Advice Received From Kobe Bryant
Lakers News

Lakers News: Kyle Kuzma Mindful Of Advice Received From Kobe Bryant

Harrison Faigen
Published: 01/26/2018
3 Min Read
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
SHARE

Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma has exceeded all pre-draft expectations for a late first-round pick, ascending into the team’s future plans and looking like a star in the making for the franchise.

Kuzma already has a Nike deal, but his ascendance (coupled with his landing in Los Angeles, the NBA’s second-largest media market) has surely opened up other opportunities for the first-year forward. Kuzma famously had dinner with Kobe Bryant a few months ago, after which the rookie drew praise from the five-time champion.

Recently, Kuzma revealed in a Q&A with and he revealed Rolling Stone that the Lakers’ legend warned him not to get too carried away with the trappings of his newfound fame:

From Kobe, just stay level-headed. Just work as hard as possible. I think those are just the main two things that I really got from him that he preaches that I got from him.

Bryant’s advice to Kuzma is hardly surprising coming from him, because despite Bryant’s copious endorsement portfolio, he was always most focused on the work that got him those opportunities in the first place.

Kuzma has already impressed Bryant with his confidence, but Bryant was also enamored with Kuzma’s inquisitiveness, a trait that is already leading him towards making improvements to his game.

Kuzma has openly spoken about how much more film he’s been watching as the season has gone on, which has already forced him to make improvements defensively, as well as finding new ways to attack the ways that defenses are covering him.

As long as Kuzma continues to not get too high on himself and focuses on continuing to grow as a player like Bryant suggests, then it looks like a near-certainty he’ll be a significant contributor for the Lakers for years to come.

If he makes a few more leaps as unexpected as his breakout rookie campaign, he might just end up becoming a star.

WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION? CHECK OUT THE NEW LAKERS NATION FORUM CLUB

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
TAGGED:Kobe BryantKyle KuzmaLos Angeles Lakers
ByHarrison Faigen
Follow:
Harrison Faigen is co-host of the Locked on Lakers podcast (subscribe here), and you can follow him on Twitter at @hmfaigen, or support his work via Venmo here or Patreon here.
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Get breaking Lakers News direct to your inbox.

Categories

  • News
  • Rumors
  • Games
  • History

Information

  • Advertise
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get breaking Lakers News direct to your inbox.

© 2025 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?