Players tend to be fired up when they face their former teams, especially when the partnership ended in a trade. The Milwaukee Bucks can only hope that Kyle Kuzma has the team's season opener, a road game against the Washington Wizards, where he played for several seasons, circled on his calendar. It could be a source of early-season motivation to build momentum.
Kuzma needs to start the season off hot
Kuzma's time with the Milwaukee Bucks has been a mess. It's not all his fault, as he's been yanked in and out of the rotation various times while there was a serious disconnect holding the organization hostage last season. Yet, he now has an opportunity to wipe the slate clean with a fresh new coach and a different group of players heading into the new NBA season.
As one of the team's oldest players, Kuzma is a veteran. Day in and day out, it will be up to him to be the guiding force for the youngsters. That entails setting the tone and leading by example. He can do so by coming out in Milwaukee's first game of the season and performing well. This could be a chance to begin to show that maybe the past year-and-a-half hasn't been all about his own shortcomings.
Contract year looms large over Kuzma
Of course, in addition to altering his league-wide image, Kuzma is also playing for a new contract this season, set to be on an expiring deal. Staring down what could be the most prominent opportunity of his career in recent memory, Kuzma needs to put together one of his best seasons if he wants to get another big contract next summer. What better way to start the quest than against his old squad?
Kuzma isn't the only player who should be fired up for this one. Of course, Khris Middleton fits all of the criteria as well after being traded by the Milwaukee Bucks for Kuzma. Returning to Washington over the summer, the forward will likely have a chip on his shoulder as he hosts his former squad. The new NBA season can't get here soon enough.
Kuzma, Milwaukee's likely starting power forward unless the team pulls off a Peyton Watson sign-and-trade, should be fired up. For outsiders, the NBA scheduling the Bucks to face the Wizards in their first game of the season might not seem overly exciting, but it could have massive implications for Kyle Kuzma.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
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