Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma and His Family May Have the Best Christmas Story of All

The Kuzma family has the most amazing Christmas story, and it will definitely bring tears to your eyes. Kyle’s mom has always wanted to get her three kids together for the big holiday. She wasn’t able to that for quite some time. The Lakers forward has been chasing his basketball dream for years, and he hasn’t spent Christmas with the family since 2012.

This year, the Kuzma family will gather around a Christmas tree at Kyle’s house in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Kyle and his team will confront the Clippers at Staples Center. It’s an important game for the young Laker and the rest of the squad.

“I don’t think Kyle has even had a Christmas tree since he left for prep school,” his mother, Karri Kuzma, said. “He has made a lot of sacrifices to get where he is. So, it will be special just to give him a special holiday of family and togetherness.

“Those years of holidays and birthdays not spent together definitely allow us to appreciate each other more and not take one another for granted. Sometimes the best Christmas presents do not have to be material or cost a lot of money. Just spending time together this holiday season will be priceless.”

The Kuzma family celebrated Christmas

Kuzma comes from Flint, Michigan. He was raised by his mom and grew up with his half-sister Briana, 22, and his half-brother, Andre, 20. Christmas was the biggest celebration in the family in his childhood, and Kuzma remembers sleeping next to the tree.

“When he was younger, he wanted the WWE figurines,” his mother said. “He wanted those little ‘The Rock’ figurines and the [championship belts]. As he got older, he went through a phase where he wanted video games. And as he got older, he wanted Jordans and more expensive things.

“He was disappointed every year. I had three kids. If he was the only kid, he might have had a chance.”

The young Laker didn’t mind any of this, and he was happy with the gifts he received each year.

“It’s funny because I was talking to my mom [recently] and she said that I’m sorry that Christmas sucked for you guys growing up because I couldn’t get enough presents for all you guys to be happy,” he said. “And for me growing up Christmas was always fun because I got presents regardless. Those presents felt like a lot because that’s all I ever knew. But she always wanted the best for us and better, so looking back, I bet it was a challenge for her because money was always short, especially around Christmas and the end of the year. She tried her best and I’m pretty sure she won’t have to struggle or think Christmas sucks anymore.”

Kyle grew up watching King James and Dwight Howard play at 10 a.m. on Christmas Day. Today, he shares the floor with these guys.

“Now all those kids have an opportunity to watch me on that day. Putting it in that kind of perspective, it is really humbling to play on this day. I was that kid who used to watch all the games. It’s humbling and exciting playing on Christmas.”

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