Bucks gives Kyle Kuzma the gift that the wizards took from him

When Milwaukee Bucks acquired Kyle Kuzma at the trade deadline, they not only added a versatile goal scorer to their list – they gave him something he hasn’t had since his days with Los Angeles Lakers: A Legitimate chance to compete for a championship.

For Kuzma, this is a return to the role in which he thrived, a role taken from him in his time with Washington Wizards. In Milwaukee, Kuzma is not asked to carry the load as a primary scorer or franchise cornerstone.

Instead, he is asked to do what he does best: Game winning basketball as an extremely high level role-player and sometimes a fringe star. And for Kuzma, it’s the ultimate gift for any of his caliber, especially after years playing a mentoring role as one of the first options for the Upstart Washington Wizards.

Kyle Kuzma has not been asked to play this role in a while

Kuzma’s career has been a tale of two roles.

With Lakers, he was an important piece of a championship team, an average of 12.8 points and 4.5 rebounds during their 2020 titles. He wasn’t the star, but he didn’t have to be. His job was to score from the bench, defend several positions and make winning plays when it matters most. It was a role that suited him perfectly and he thrived in it.

But when Kuzma was traded for the wizards, everything changed. Suddenly he was pressed into a leadership role, expected to be the face of a reconstruction franchise. While putting impressive numbers – an average of 21.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists in his best season with them in 2023 – his individual success did not translate into team success. The wizards became firm in mediocrity, and Kuzma’s role as a primary opportunity often led to questions about his consistency and decision making.

Now with Bucks, Kuzma is back in a well -known role. He is no longer the focal point of the offense or franchise’s face. Instead, he is a complementary piece with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, who are tasked with giving scoring, rebounding and versatility. It is a role that plays for his strengths and allows him to focus on what he does best: to make winning acting.

In many ways, Kuzma’s situation in Milwaukee reflects his time with Lakers. He is surrounded by elite talent that removes the pressure from him to carry the load every night. He can choose his spots, attack discrepancies and use his athletics to influence both ends of the floor. It’s a role that allows him to thrive without the burden of being “the guy.”

Since coming to Bucks, Kuzma has shown blink of the player he was during his lakers days. He has been more effective, more committed defensively and more willing to play within the flow of the offense. In his first three matches with Milwaukee, he is an average of 15.3 points, seven rebounds and two assists, shooting 42.9 percent off the field. While his 3-point shooting, an eerie 26.7 percent, still needs improvement, his overall influence has been positive.

But perhaps more importantly, Kuzma looks completely rejuvenated. He plays with a sense of purpose and urgency, knowing that every game means something in Bucks’ search for a championship. It is a sharp contrast to his time in Washington, where individual statistics often felt hollow in the absence of team success.

It’s time for Kyle Kuzma to start winning again

For Kuzma, this trade is a chance to regain its identity as a winning player. It is an opportunity to prove that he can be a valuable piece on a championship team, not just a state-booze in a lottery-bound team. For Bucks, Kuzma represents a much needed injection of scoring and versatility, a person who can take some of the load from Giannis and Lillard while giving a spark from the bench.

If Kuzma can embrace his role and deliver in the playoffs, this trade can be a game election for Milwaukee Bucks.

The scene is set and the bet is high. If Kuzma can deliver, he will not only help Bucks win a title – he will remind the league of why he is one of the most valuable role players in the game. The gift is given. Now it’s up to Kyle Kuzma to make the most of it.

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