It was announced earlier today that Kyle Kuzma would miss his second straight game with a “left ankle sprain“. Frank Vogel said after it was confirmed Kuzma would be out that “we’re gonna take as long as we need to make sure it gets right.”
Kuzma has had a very interesting season so far. He missed all of pre- season and the early part of the regular season due to a stress reaction in his left foot. He then suffered an eye abrasion a few weeks ago and was forced to wear a mask for a game. Kuzma has also had to deal with a diminished role playing alongside two super stars. He has often looked lost and has seemed like a piece that just doesn’t match the Lakers roster.
It has not been easy for Kuzma, and his up and down play has shown that. Still, he is an incredibly important piece for this team. He may not be necessary to win regular season games, but he is an X factor and could get hot in a playoff series to help propel the Lakers forward. The Lakers are doing the right thing by taking it slow with Kuzma. I’m sure it is frustrating for him since he has dealt with nagging injuries all season long, but some time off to get 100% should help him in the long run.
