Why Not Kyle Kuzma?

Basketball fans have their eyes on a talented rookie class that include Ben Simmons, Lonzo Ball, Jayson Tatum, DeAaron Fox, and Dennis Smith, Jr. There is a player, however, who can steal their spotlight. His name is Kyle Kuzma from the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kuzma entered the league through obscurity. No one knew what he was capable of. During the 2017 NBA Draft, the Lakers landed the 2^nd overall pick. The team selected Lonzo Ball, a point guard from UCLA with an unorthodox shooting form, precise passes and court vision. Fans compare the rookie to future Hall of Famer Jason Kidd. Los Angeles assured that Ball will lead the franchise to a dynasty. Lakers legend Kobe Bryant retired in 2016, and fans believed Ball will fill in his shoes. Kuzma ended up as the 27^th pick, but the attention on Ball overshadowed him.

Ball isn’t living up to the hype though. Fourteen games into the season, Josh Planos from The Washington Post stated, “Ball is shooting 31.3 percent from the field, 25 percent from behind the three-point circle and 50 percent from the free throw line, putting him on track for the worst shooting season by a rookie in the three-point era.” Although it is early, Ball has been inconsistent with his performance. He is the youngest player in NBA history to tally a triple-double in a game, yet the result doesn’t cut it with Coach Luke Walton. The Lakers expect to win, and Ball hasn’t stepped up. He still needs to prove that he belongs in the pros.

Kuzma, on the other hand, is off to a great start. As the season progresses, the 6-foot 9-inch player from the University of Utah, according to Planos, “is getting to the free throw line more consistently…and scoring efficiently, too. Kuzma ranks second this season among rookies in true-shooting percentage (58.4) – and among rookies in the three-point era who took at least 11 shots per contest.” He trails Ben Simmons and Dennis Smith, Jr. on the points-per-game category in his draft class. His statistics show that he is willing to be the best player possible throughout his career. He has a chance to become this season’s Rookie of the Year as well. When he is on the floor, the rookie contributes to the team. Kuzma’s scoring ability pushes the Lakers to compete against tough opponents. The franchise looks for heart and determination in a player, and Kuzma completes the whole package. He won’t back down from any challenge. Charles Barkley acknowledged that Kuzma is the best rookie in his team, and fans are aware of it.

The future is bright for the rookie. He has potential to become an NBA superstar. If Kuzma continues to execute, then Lonzo Ball will most likely be a myth to basketball fans. Kyle Kuzma is the real deal.

Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images

MVP Watch: Giannis Antetokounmpo

The 2017-2018 NBA season is off to a great start. Even though it is early to select the league’s Most Valuable Player, fans should be on the watch for Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks.

During the offseason, Lakers legend Kobe Bryant sparked Twitter feeds when he challenged athletes to accomplish various tasks. Bryant called out the newest member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Isaiah Thomas, to be in the All-NBA First Team, and Toronto Raptor’s DeMar DeRozan to rekindle a lost friendship from his youth. Antetokounmpo was eager to know his challenge from the Black Mamba. Bryant tweeted the 22-year-old from Greece to become the next MVP. Antetokounmpo accepted the request. With the start of the season, the Bucks’ star is thriving for that MVP award.

According to NBA Advanced Stats, Antetokounmpo averages 31.7 points, 4.7 assists, 10.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.8 blocks, and 58.2% field goals per game so far. He leads the league in scoring as well. The numbers that the 6 foot 11-inch forward is putting is unbelievable. Since his rookie year, Antetokounmpo’s statistics improved. He began his career with 6.8 points per game in the 2013-2014 season to 22.9 points per game in the 2016-2017 season. The way he has performed shows consistency and determination.

Fans don’t call him the Greek Freak for nothing. He has been showcasing his game on highlight reels. With his lengthy and athletic physique, Antetokounmpo attributes tremendous point guard skills, which include court vision and ball control. He strides the floor and finishes the rim with authority. Opponents can’t find a way to stop him. LeBron James and Magic Johnson, two of the NBA’s most dynamic athletes in league history, are the closest comparisons to Antetokounmpo’s game. That is something for fans to be impressed with.

In an article by Lee Jenkins from Sports Illustrated, Antetokounmpo doesn’t settle for less. “On the worst nights, when the fadeaways are short and the pocket passes are late, he [Giannis Antetokounmpo] skips the showers…he reenacts the game he just played, every shot he clanked and every read he missed. Sometimes he leaves by 1 a.m. Other times, he stays until three.” Antetokounmpo is a firm believer of the saying, “hard work beats talent while talent fails to work hard.” He has the desire to be a winner. He wants to become one of the greatest players ever, and his work ethic exemplifies what it takes to reach that level.

The journey won’t be easy for the young star, but his future is bright. If he keeps this up, Giannis Antetokounmpo will be an NBA legend. He has the potential to dominate the league. Fans should take heed of his game.

Photo by NBA Media Ventures, LLC

Underappreciated: John Stockton

Let’s go back to the old school. Millennials, take note of one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, John Stockton.

Former Utah Jazz star and Hall of Famer, John Stockton took the NBA by storm during the mid-80’s and 90’s. Various players who faced him had their perspective about the legend. In an interview with Bleacher Report, former Seattle Supersonics player Gary Payton praised the Utah guard that “he was the toughest player he ever guarded.” Basketball fans grew skeptical with Payton’s opinion because they thought Michael Jordan, the greatest player of all-time, would fulfill that role. Payton added, “We knew what he [Stockton] was going to do. We would get caught up with the picks and get mad at him…He would shoot eight times and make nine. Shoot eight free throws and make seven. He’d have fifteen assists and four steals. A complete game. That’s just the way he was and I idolized him.” This generation of point guards should be impressed by the accolades Stockton received from a legend like Payton. They should remind themselves how dominant Stockton was.

According to Basketball Reference, Stockton averaged 13.1 points, 10.5 assists, 51.5 % on the field goal range, and stole the ball 2.2 times per game throughout his career. Those statistics may not be convincing enough since he didn’t score a lot, but Stockton’s performance shows consistency and efficiency on the court. A true point guard shouldn’t worry about scoring the most points; a true point guard should help his teammates become better players. That’s what Stockton did when he contributed at least 10 assists per game. He leads the NBA’s all-time assist record with 15, 806 in his career. His teammate, Karl Malone, is second on the all-time scoring list with 36, 928 points, which Stockton complemented through his playmaking skills. Stockton not only executed on the offensive end, but also the defensive end of the court. He set the all-time steals record with 3, 265. Unfortunately, millennials miss the mark on his accomplishments.

If you compare Stockton with today’s players, he stands out. He wasn’t athletic like Russell Westbrook, a flashy ball-handler like Kyrie Irving, or a streaky shooter like Stephen Curry. Fans hardly recognized him because he looked like an average guy. Stockton didn’t promote the best signature shoes and become a trend setter. He embraced the short-shorts while the rest of the NBA during his time wore baggy shorts. Stockton didn’t care about the spotlight though. He focused on his role with the team and the fundamentals of the sport. He competed every game with intensity and durability. He wanted to get the job done.

To catch a glimpse of Stockton’s career, click here. A point guard like him is rare in the league. If you want to take your skills to the highest level, then consider learning from him.

Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Believe The Hype: The 2018 NBA All-Star Game

The All-Star Game is back, and fans should be thrilled about it. Give credit to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and the front office. On October 3rd, they agreed to eliminate the East vs. West format of the 2018 All-Star Game in Los Angeles. The event will feature top vote-getters from each conference as team captains. These captains will draft 24 of the league’s most popular players. Each All-Star team will be divided into 12 players. According to Ryne Nelson from Slam, the selection process will consist “10 starters – two guards and three frontcourt players per team – will continue to be chosen by a combination of fans, players, and basketball media. NBA head coaches will still select the remaining two players at any position.” With this idea, the change of the format will bring a fresh energy into the All-Star Game.

In recent years, the event lost its competitive nature. Fans wasted their time and money because players didn’t take the game seriously. Based on the statistics from Basketball Reference, each team almost scored 200 points. Defense is an important element of the sport, and the score indicates the lack of it. The All-Star Game showcases playground basketball. It is meant to be a clash among the greatest players in the league. The crowd wants to be entertained by the game’s tenacity and hustle. The new format will motivate players to play harder.

This season’s format will also balance each team. The East can never get over the hump since the West has been the most dominant conference within the last few years. Fans are not surprised by it because every All-Star Game results in a Western Conference victory. When Paul George and Carmelo Anthony took their talents to the west coast, the league realized the conference will continue to grow. It was one of the reasons why the NBA abandoned the East vs. West tradition.

Without the conference structure, the All-Star Game might open new partnerships. An alliance with LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant may spark attention. Since the 2015 NBA Finals, James and the Cleveland Cavaliers formed a rivalry against Curry, Durant, and the Golden State Warriors. This season’s All-Star Game could ease tension between these players if they become teammates. There is also a possibility for a revival of the Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook feud. Last season, Durant moved on from the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the Warriors and win a championship. That left Westbrook bitter. Fans hope to witness this match-up if the two stars will be selected to a different team.

This All-Star Game will be worth watching. Fans anticipate to see a prime-time event of a lifetime. Will Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook face off? Will Kyrie Irving and LeBron James reunite? These questions leave the basketball world wondering. The NBA has finally given what the fans deserve. Believe the hype!

Photo by NBA Media Ventures, LLC