Kobe Bryant spent all 20 years of his NBA career with the Lakers, but dealt with plenty of trade and free-agency rumors during those two decades.
Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma is playing a third-fiddle role to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Kuzma has been in trade rumors with the NBA deadline just a day away and he is leaning on advice from Bryant, who died on Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash.
“Kob’ used to always tell me, ‘If they’re not talking about you, then you should be worried,’” Kuzma told USA Today following the Lakers’ 129-102 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday at Staples Center.
“And I’m the talk of the town.”
Kuzma was the untouchable piece that the Lakers refused to part with when acquiring Davis from the Pelicans last offseason. It has not been a perfect match, though, with the 24-year-old’s shooting percentages down while figuring out how to handle a lesser role with two massive stars playing alongside him.
The Knicks, who are now dangling Marcus Morris, have had talks with the Lakers for Kuzma, per The Athletic.
“I really don’t care, honestly,” Kuzma said. “You can’t control it. I get traded, I get traded. Don’t matter. I’m still going to play basketball. Still going to play the game I love. Still going to get paid.”
For more on the Knicks, listen to the latest episode of the “Big Apple Buckets” podcast:
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