Kyle Kuzma Wins MVP for 2017 Las Vegas NBA Summer League Championship

Forward Kyle Kuzma dominated the Las Vegas Summer League championship game from start to finish, scoring 30 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Lakers over the Portland Trail Blazers, 110-98. His performance earned him MVP of the game:

The former Utah Ute, who was picked 27th overall in the 2017 NBA draft, could not be stopped all night as he shot 11-of-16 from the field and 6-of-10 from beyond the arc.

Kuzma scored his 30th point as the third-quarter buzzer sounded after hitting a three-pointer to give the Lakers an 84-79 lead. He was fantastic all game:

With fellow Lakers 2017 NBA draft first-rounders Lonzo Ball (right calf strain) and Josh Hart (right ankle sprain) sitting out the final, Kuzma stole the show.

After going scoreless for three-plus minutes to open the game, he caught fire, scoring 11 points (a trio of three-pointers and a layup) in a 2:32 span. That helped turn a 10-3 Blazers lead into an 18-14 Lakers advantage.

Kuzma continued his dominance in the second quarter and finished the half with 19 points, but his best effort came in the third quarter. Once there, Kuzma scored 11 more points to give him 30 for the night.

The 21-year-old forward flashed a lot of potential during the Las Vegas Summer League as he led all players in total points scored. In seven games, he averaged 21.9 points (on 51.4 percent shooting) in addition to 6.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists.

It will be interesting to see how he fits in the Lakers rotation this year. Specifically, where will he play, and how much court time will he get?

Kuzma made some notable comments to Harrison Faigen of Silver Screen & Roll last Sunday:

If the 6'9", 220-pound Kuzma, who scored 16.4 points and grabbed 9.3 rebounds during his final season in Utah, can provide that type of versatility for the Lakers, then it's not inconceivable that he could emerge as the team's sixth man at some point this season.