Lakers Confirm Kyle Kuzma Out Indefinitely With Stress Fracture in Foot
By Sam Dunn
The Los Angeles Lakers enter the new NBA season with more hype than they've had since the abominable Dwight Howard-Steve Nash experiment, but when they trot out to start the year, they're expecting to be without one of their key contributors.
Confirming a report first issued by insider Marc Stein, forward Kyle Kuzma is out indefinitely with a stress fracture in his foot suffered during his time with Team USA this summer.
The Lakers make it official and confirm our @NYTSports report from Tuesday that Kyle Kuzma is out indefinitely with a stress reaction in his left foot
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 26, 2019
The consensus is currently that the rising third-year player won't be able to return until mid-October at the earliest. He's due to receive an MRI after the Lakers return from a preseason trip in China.
Last season, Kuzma averaged 18.7 points per game in 33.1 minutes, but notably saw his three-point percentage drop to an odious 30.3. He'll be counted on this year to improve his ability to space the floor for superstar additions Anthony Davis and LeBron James.
The Lakers announce that Kyle Kuzma will be out until at least mid October with a foot injury. pic.twitter.com/F8DzEvN1bp
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) September 26, 2019
Having turned 24 years of age just two months ago, Kuz is still very much a work in progress. This season ought to be the one in which he truly begins to show the kind of player he can be in the NBA-- but he'll have to overcome a late start due to this nagging foot issue.