“Gave up on me…” Former teammate claims LeBron James and Lakers would still be contenders if they hadn’t traded him

Washington Wizards' Kyle Kuzma has been making the headlines lately for his recent statements involving the Lakers in a recent interview.

“Gave up on me…” Former teammate claims LeBron James and Lakers would still be contenders if they hadn’t traded him

Kyle Kuzma calls exit from Lakers was 'tough'

The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most decorated franchises in the NBA. They have had many historic moments in the league and have top stars like LeBron James at their disposal. However, over the years, they have parted ways with many talented youngsters too. One of them was Kyle Kuzma. The former Laker recently opened up on his tenure with the purple and gold.

Kuzma was traded to the Lakers on draft day (2015) and played with the Lakers for four seasons. He developed as a valuable team player that contributed to their 2020 championship success. But as part of a significant transaction that saw them acquire Russell Westbrook, the Lakers sent Kuzma to the Washington Wizards after the 2020–21 NBA season.

Recently, Kuzma claimed in an interview with Naveen Ganglani of ALL-STAR Magazine that the Lakers and their GM, Rob Pelinka ‘gave up on him’ very easily.

FS Video
For sure, 100 percent. I think it’s tough because they kind of gave up on me, They gave up on that team too a little too early. Rob [Pelinka] panicked a little bit. But you know in the NBA, things happen fast, you never know what’s going to happen next.
Kyle Kuzma said

Kuzma went on to call the transitory phase a ‘revolving door’. In a somewhat unsuccessful attempt to add more star power with Westbrook, the Lakers dismantled a championship team. Over the past few seasons, they have suffered as a result of losing all of their depth. It remains to be seen now how the Lakers will perform in the upcoming NBA season.

RELATED
LeBron James and Lakers to have JJ Redick’s ‘sickos’ at hand for NBA title push
Los Angeles Lakers hired JJ Redick to coach podcast mate LeBron James to win NBA title

Kyle Kuzma’s contributions helped LeBron James win 4th title in NBA bubble

Kyle Kuzma is one name that the Lakers fans will always remember. Kuzma played an important role in the Lakers’ 2020 NBA title alongside LeBron James. He was an important squad player who performed when his side needed him the most. The forward averaged 10.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game while playing in all 21 of the Lakers’ championship winning campaign in 2020.

Without Anthony Davis on the team during his first two seasons in Los Angeles, Kuzma made the most of his regular touches. He averaged 17.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists a game while playing 45.3 percent of the time from the field and 33.5 percent from 3-point range in 147 regular-season games.

However, when the Lakers acquired Davis, Kuzma’s time at the Lakers went on to be limited. This also saw a harsh decline in his performances. During his third and fourth seasons, he played 129 games overall, but his scoring average dropped to just 12.8 points per game. Eventually, he was traded to the Washington Wizards where he is a regular starter now.

In Case You Missed It: