Kyle Kuzma had a slow start to the game against former Buck Khris Middleton and the Washington Wizards. He was just 1-of-5 from the field midway through the second quarter. After the shaky start, Kuzma settled in quite nicely in his new bench role. If his solid play continues, it could pay big dividends for the team moving forward.
Effeciency and playing to Kuzma's strengths are key
Much of the talk surrounding Kyle Kuzma has been negative since his rough play in last year's postseason. Cries to trade Kuzma have been steadily found on social media throughout the summer and much of the preseason. What we saw in the season opener was exactly what the Bucks needed to see for Kuzma to find his way back in the fans' favor.
After his poor start, Kuzma finished the game with 12 points on 50 percent shooting. He also filled the point forward role much of the time, as superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo was out of the game. He tallied four assists, all in the first half, as Milwaukee's offense flourished (72 points in the half). Kuzma played a key role not just in scoring but in finding open teammates when he was aggressive.
Kuzma seemed to find a nice rhythm playing most of his time at the four coming off the bench. Last season, the coaching staff seemed determined to force Kyle into the starting small forward spot, which ultimately resulted in poor shooting and a clunky fit next to the team's best player. Playing Kuzma at the four has opened up the floor, allowing him to use his speed and athleticism to get by slower-footed defenders and attack the rim.
Much like the starting power forward Antetokounmpo, the swarming defense Kuzma attracts as he attacks the paint opens up shooters like AJ Green, Gary Trent Jr, and Myles Turner. The team shot a blistering 46 percent on twenty-eight 3-pointer attempts, many of those coming off Giannis and Kuzma drives. Kuzma's ability to find open teammates in this fast-paced, 3-point-heavy offense will be crucial to the team's success.
A win for the team and an efficient game from Kyle Kuzma are two encouraging signs for the Bucks. If he can maintain his efficiency and continue to provide pivotal scoring during times when Giannis is out of the game, that alone could elevate this team's ceiling to a completely different level as the season continues.