Kyle Kuzma Says $25,000 Bonus Motivated Him to Win 2019 NBA Rising Stars MVP

Kyle Kuzma isn't about to sleep on winning $25,000. 

The Los Angeles Lakers forward said the NBA's bonus was the motivating factor in him winning the 2019 Rising Stars MVP on Friday.

"I think it was the second timeout, and I broke the huddle by saying, 'Bonus-1-2-3.' So there you go," Kuzma told reporters after the game.

Kuzma scored a game-high 35 points to lead Team USA to a 161-144 win over Team World in the Rising Stars Challenge.

"I played last year and was lackadaisical, so I didn't want to do that again," Kuzma said.

"There was a lot of great players out there, All-Stars, we're all young rising stars in this league. Obviously it's an exhibition, but it's always better to have bragging rights whenever you can."

Kuzma is making $1,689,840 this season. That works out to $20,607 per game for an 82-game regular season, so this was a nice little bonus to add on top of his salary for 2018-19.

Trae Young had 25 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds to also contend for MVP honors. Jayson Tatum (30 points, nine rebounds) and Ben Simmons (28 points, six assists) were in the outside of a running that ultimately turned into a battle between Kuzma and Young in the fourth quarter.