Download our Free Mobile App!
Faster with Fewer Ads

Get App
Lakers Nation
  • Rumors
  • Schedule
    • Lakers 2025 Preseason Schedule
  • 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

Get App
Lakers Nation
  • Rumors
  • Schedule
    • Lakers 2025 Preseason Schedule
  • 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: Lakers Scout Bill Bertka Was The First Member Of The Front Office To Notice Kyle Kuzma
Lakers News

Lakers News: Lakers Scout Bill Bertka Was The First Member Of The Front Office To Notice Kyle Kuzma

Harrison Faigen
Published: 11/15/2017
3 Min Read
Kyle-kuzma-1
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
SHARE

Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma has not suffered from a shortage of eyes on him since starting his NBA career. The rookie has burst onto the scene during his first season by averaging 14.9 points per game (which ranks third on the team) and shooting 50.3 percent from the field.

But Kuzma didn’t always pop off the screen in the same way he is now. During his time in college at Utah, Kuzma was hardly a household name, even among NBA scouting departments. Most mock drafts expected him to fall into the second round.

The Lakers have been able to find their fair share of gems in the later round of the draft in recent years, but the team didn’t want to let Kuzma fall that far, scooping him up with the No. 27 pick.

Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that their enthusiasm was kick-started by a scout that’s helped the organization find success for decades: Bill Bertka, who was enthralled by what he saw from Kuzma in the Pac-12 Conference tournament via Ramona Shelburne of ESPN:

“He got all wide-eyed,” Lakers director of scouting Jesse Buss recalls. “And he said, ‘If this guy isn’t an NBA player, then I don’t know what the f— I’m looking at.'”

What he was looking at was a player who has gone on to become not just a solid pick for the late-first round, but one who looks primed to start (or at the very least play a role) for the Lakers for the next several years. Kuzma is a versatile, never-stationary force to be reckoned with both on and off the ball on offense, and has also shown the potential to defend multiple positions on defense.

His quick-twitch move and endless confidence to fire when ready have also made Kuzma a perfect partner for fellow-rookie Lonzo Ball, and the tandem look like they’ll be a problem for Lakers opponents for years to come.

Kuzma has said he felt he should’ve went “top-five” in the NBA Draft, and the Lakers should just be thankful Bertka is working for them instead of another team in that range, or Kuzma’s belief might’ve become a reality.

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

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
TAGGED:Kyle 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?