Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 33474 Location: Long Beach, California
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2018 11:22 pm Post subject:
I don't see Jamison really being that close to Kuzma. Maybe the same ballpark, sure, but there are much better comps out there. Kuzma is more of a wing/SF than Jamison ever was, IMO. Kuzma may play at the 4 most of his career because of current trends in basketball, but that doesn't mean they are that close of a comp. _________________ LakersGround's Terms of Service
Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Posts: 22835 Location: La Jolla, San Diego
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2018 12:50 am Post subject:
LakerSanity wrote:
I don't see Jamison really being that close to Kuzma. Maybe the same ballpark, sure, but there are much better comps out there. Kuzma is more of a wing/SF than Jamison ever was, IMO. Kuzma may play at the 4 most of his career because of current trends in basketball, but that doesn't mean they are that close of a comp.
I think the main similarity is that they both can manufacture shots in tight spaces. Flips, hooks, quickly throw it up. When I saw how clever Kuz was in getting rid of a shot, immediately It just reminded me of Antawn because he was a bit like that. Most players have a set of go-to moves and they don't deviate it from it if one of those moves are not available. Kuz isn't afraid to look a little quirky as long as the shot gets off. Not many mixes of AJ on youtube, mostly Him vs Kobe videos. But here's a video that shows some of those quirky shots Antawn used to get off. Mostly threes in the mix, but you can see some of the circus shots at the 2:02 mark, so I start it there:
But I mean quirky in a good way, you gotta have footwork to get off these shots, and Kuz has displayed footwork as well.
Joined: 26 May 2016 Posts: 7825 Location: Long Beach
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2018 1:00 am Post subject:
Runway8 wrote:
LakerSanity wrote:
I don't see Jamison really being that close to Kuzma. Maybe the same ballpark, sure, but there are much better comps out there. Kuzma is more of a wing/SF than Jamison ever was, IMO. Kuzma may play at the 4 most of his career because of current trends in basketball, but that doesn't mean they are that close of a comp.
I think the main similarity is that they both can manufacture shots in tight spaces. Flips, hooks, quickly throw it up. When I saw how clever Kuz was in getting rid of a shot, immediately It just reminded me of Antawn because he was a bit like that. Most players have a set of go-to moves and they don't deviate it from it if one of those moves are not available. Kuz isn't afraid to look a little quirky as long as the shot gets off. Not many mixes of AJ on youtube, mostly Him vs Kobe videos. But here's a video that shows some of those quirky shots Antawn used to get off. Mostly threes in the mix, but you can see some of the circus shots at the 2:02 mark, so I start it there:
But I mean quirky in a good way, you gotta have footwork to get off these shots, and Kuz has displayed footwork as well.
I agree with both of you.. Kuz has a perimeter aspect to his game that is superior to Jamison's. With that being said he has exhibited the quick release flip shots in traffic that we would see from Jamison.
The reason why many of these comps are off is because there's a new breed of talent entering the league that are creating their own molds. Kuz, is his own thing, Ingram, and Randle as well.
I see the Jamison comparison, stylistically. But if you take Jamison, add a reliable 3-ball and with the way Kuz is wired differently from most guys (I never saw Antawn as someone who wanted to be the alpha dog as badly as this kid does), you have a completely different player with a higher ceiling IMO. I think the crazy competitiveness and #1 mentality make a world of difference, and though he'd still be lucky to have a career like Jamison did, his true potential is likely higher than that (and I like his chances of reaching it ). I can see both sides of the argument.
He’s a tall lanky scorer who reminds me of a young Horry, Durant, Manning, Tayshaun etc
He was reminding me of LO last game with the height, arm band and untucked jersey. _________________ It was reminiscent of one of those Most Interesting Man in the World advertisements: "I don't always shoot 6-for-28 from the field, but when I do, I become the youngest player in league history to score 28,000 career points."
He clearly studies him the same way Kobe studied MJ. His mannerisms and interviews have been extremely Kobesque lately and he's even started rocking the arm band. Caught him sucking the sweat off his jersey a few games back. _________________ It was reminiscent of one of those Most Interesting Man in the World advertisements: "I don't always shoot 6-for-28 from the field, but when I do, I become the youngest player in league history to score 28,000 career points."
Last edited by manlisten on Fri Apr 06, 2018 7:45 am; edited 1 time in total
He clearly studies him the same way Kobe studied MJ. His mannerisms and interviews have been extremely Kobesque lately and he's even started rocking the arm band. Caught him sucking the sweat off his jersey a few games back.
Yea, if u watch Kobe’s old games on YouTube when he was 20-21 ish, same exact mannerism, confidence borderline cockiness... Kuzma has ‘it’, never a hesitation in his moves
He clearly studies him the same way Kobe studied MJ. His mannerisms and interviews have been extremely Kobesque lately and he's even started rocking the arm band. Caught him sucking the sweat off his jersey a few games back.
Yea, if u watch Kobe’s old games on YouTube when he was 20-21 ish, same exact mannerism, confidence borderline cockiness... Kuzma has ‘it’, never a hesitation in his moves
I remember Kuz saying something about feeling no pressure in the NBA because of his upbringing from Flint, Michigan. Love the mentality.
I might be misremembering, but I feel like Jamison was more of an opportunistic player, a guy who would score by being in the right place at the right time for putbacks and open shots, kind of similar to Cedric Ceballos. I don't recall him coming off screens or creating off the dribble the way Kuz does. I think Kuz is more of a guy who can be deliberately featured in an offense.
Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 33474 Location: Long Beach, California
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2018 9:33 am Post subject:
Jamison had amazing footwork. Definitely created his own shot and could shoot. IIRC though, he didn't develop his 3pt shot as much until the end of his career. He was also much more of a post player than Kuzma. I don't recall him ever having a pull up jumper off the dribble in his too bag either, where as that appears to be a big part of Kuzma's game. _________________ LakersGround's Terms of Service
No comparison is going to be one-for-one. I think a lot of past players would be much different in today's NBA.
The kind of skills and abilities that Kuzma has lines up really well with Jamison, IMO. Runway8 mentioned his work around the rim, and that's where he most reminds me of Jamison, too. Also the body control. Gallinari doesn't have that. Kuzma does, much like Jamison.
No need to put Kuzma in a box, but his skillset is incredible, and he has so many impressive things to his game. Glad we've graduated away from the Brian Cook comparisons getting any kind of credence.
He's an exciting prospect for sure, and IMO, he's been really well coached. Luke and the staff have been on him all season long about shot selection, and defence. They've encouraged him, and given him the grounding he needs to get him to take those next steps to becoming an all-star level player in this league, and to his credit he's taking it all in and has shown extreme growth through the season.
Kuzma, Ingram, Ball, Hart, and Randle, have all shown enough potential and intrigue this season that even if we strike out in Free Agency this offseason I'm going to be incredibly excited to see the team next season.
Andy Larsen: Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball are both questionable for tomorrow’s game against the Jazz. Ingram still out. Brook Lopez probable. 3 hours ago – via Twitter andyblarsen
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). I can see both sides of the argument.
