Report: Lakers Rule Out Kyle Kuzma Indefinitely

The Los Angeles Lakers were full of hope regarding their next season. However, things won’t go that smooth, because Kyle Kuzma suffered a stress fracture in his foot during his time with Team USA this summer.

Marc Stein reported that the young forward is out indefinitely.

“Kuzma is progressing with is rehabilitation from an injury (stress reaction, left foot) that occurred while he was with USA Basketball. He hasn’t been cleared for full practice or game participation. He is scheduled for an MRI when the team returns from China, and a status update will be given at that time. Kuzma played in just one exhibition game in late August with Team USA before sitting out the remainder of the summer in order to heal.”

He was out of Team USA in order to get ready for the season.

“Bummer [I] couldn’t finish my time with [USA Basketball] but that team will be just fine,” Kuzma wrote at the time. “Excited to get healthy and back to L.A. and get ready for the real show get ready!” 

When it comes to his role in LA, Kuzma wanted to be the third guy.

“Just being able to hit open shots. Obviously, Bron and AD… they’re going to have a lot of attention. A lot of the defense is going to be geared on those guys, so just do what I’ve been doing… nothing different. Hit shots, being a great cutter, running the floor, and being a good teammate.

“My motivation is there to be that third guy for the simple fact that playing with LeBron, with AD, I got high dreams for myself to do some pretty special things in my career. So that’s motivation in itself. It’s a testament to my work ethic and laying down the groundwork for my past two years being in the league.

The young Laker told Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN that he is ready to play his best game.

“I don’t feel no pressure, but I believe that I am capable of being that superstar,” Kuzma told ESPN. “I put a lot of work in. My progress through my journey shows that I can be there. I developed every single year, dating back to college, and I don’t see that development stunting at all.”