Los Angeles Lakers President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson announced on Friday that rookies Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma will not participate in the Las Vegas Summer League this July.
Last summer, Ball and Kuzma were among the major contributors to a Summer League Championship for the Lakers, showcasing their varied skillsets that made them among the best players on the parent team over the course of the season.
Both Ball and Kuzma were top-five in minutes played per game for the Lakers this season. They have shown enough for the team and the coaching staff to know what they have in them without more development time in the summer league.
Johnson did mention that both Josh Hart and Thomas Bryant will play in Las Vegas as the team continues to develop their skills and bodies.
Keeping the two star rookies off the team also has the added benefit of giving the Lakers more roster spots to work with. The team has recently used the Summer League as a time to evaluate players that can be depth pieces for the team moving forward. Both Alex Caruso and Travis Wear, contributors for the Lakers this season, first showcased their abilities at Summer League.
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