What’s Going on With the Lakers Rookie Stars?

What’s Going on With the Lakers Rookie Stars?

Lakers’ rookies Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma have been two of the most talked about rookies from the 2017 draft class. Lonzo had a disappointing year in the eyes of many, but in no way was a bust. Ball put up pretty impressive numbers averaging 10.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and 7.2 APG good enough to earn him All-Rookie Second Team honors. Kuzma had a sensational rookie season that very few people saw coming. The Utah product and 27th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft put up a 16.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 1.8 APG. Kuzma earned himself All-Rookie First Team honors. The Lakers have a phenomenal young core led by Ball, Kuzma, and Brandon Ingram, and are in a position to go out this summer in free agency and possibly add a big name superstar. However, the youth that may be the organizations biggest selling point may also be the thing that hurts them in their pursuit of Lebron James and Paul George.

Since Kuzma and Ball have been drafted it seems that they developed a friendship that mirrors two brothers. Kuzma is constantly poking fun at all three Ball brothers on twitter and has been seen at the Ball home many times. Lonzo and Kuzma are always trolling each other on social media just like brothers do, but this past week Lonzo took it a step further. Ball, who is also producing rap music when he’s not playing basketball, released a track on iTunes titled Kylie Kuzma. The song is an obvious diss track and some of the words are things you just don’t joke about. In the song, Lonzo takes a shot at Kuzma for never knowing who his biological father is which is a comment that is a lot harsher than the trolling we have seen them do over social media. Kuzma replied to the track on Instagram by saying, “I’m whooping yo ass Wednesday.”

(link to the song)

On Wednesday the Lakers front office made it a point to address the situation by calling both Ball and Kuzma in to discuss the track. Officials asked the two to tone down the trolling in light of the upcoming free agency sweepstakes. What seems like lighthearted fun and games between Lonzo Ball (age 20) and Kyle Kuzma (age 22) may end up hurting the Lakers as a free agent destination because it will be looked at as immaturity.