Player Bio

Kyle Alexander Kuzma was born on July 24, 1995 in Flint, Michigan, to Karri Kuzma. He regards Larry Smith, who is the father of Kyle's younger brother and sister -- Andre and Briana -- as a father figure. Kuzma attended Bentley High School in Michigan, averaging 17.9 points, 14.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.4 blocks per game as a junior. In his senior season, he attended Rise Academy in Philadelphia and averaged 22 points and seven rebounds per contest. After high school, Kuzma went to the University of Utah, where he earned a degree in sociology. Kuzma frequently works with YMCAs in both Flint and in Los Angeles, and he donated more than 300 backpacks and school supplies to Flint students in need in 2019. He enjoys bowling in his free time. Learn more about Kuzma by following him on Twitter at @kylekuzma and on Instagram at @kuz. It took Kuzma a couple of seasons to establish himself at the University of Utah. He signed late and redshirted during the 2013-14 season. In his freshman season, the 6-foot-9 forward played sparingly off the bench but showed scoring potential in early-season wins over UC Riverside and Texas-Rio Grande Valley with a combined 33 points. Kuzma moved into the starting lineup as a sophomore and opened the season with 23 points and 12 rebounds, the first of four double-doubles. The Utes advanced to the NCAA Tournament, and the forward had 15 points in a second-round loss to Gonzaga. The Flint, Michigan, native became the go-to scorer for coach Larry Krystkowiak in his third and final season with the team. He led Utah with 16.4 points and 9.3 rebounds. Kuzma had a career-high 26 points along with 12 rebounds in a win at Arizona State. He was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team and applied for the 2018 NBA Draft following the season. Kuzma was selected with the 27th overall pick by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2017 NBA Draft, but he was traded to the Lakers on draft night.