SANTA MONICA — The Lakers may not have made the playoffs, but it can still be proud of its two rookie recruits, Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball who were named to the All-Rookie teams two days ago, recording LA’s fourth consecutive season to have been selected for an All-Rookie team. Kuzma was selected for the All-Rookie First Team, becoming the 12th play in franchise history to receive the award while teammate Lonzo Ball was named to the All-Rookie Second Team.
As the 27th overall draft pick in 2017, Kuzma became the leading rookie 3-point shooter in the team’s history and the first rookie in Lakers’ history to sink 25 or more points in three consecutive games since the 1960-61 season when Jerry West did it. He lead the team averaging 16.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists and shot 50.4 percent in the first 20 games of his career. He was selected for the Kia NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month in October and November. He recorded 37 games as a starter this season and finished his rookie season ranked second in points per game by a rookie with 16.1.
Ball was selected second overall in the 2017 NBA draft. He started 50 games while playing 52 total this season. Ball averaged 10.2 points a game, 6.9 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.7 steals. He tied for first in most steals by a rookie and was second in assists by a rookie. He wrapped his rookie season with 13 double-doubles and two triple-doubles to tie “Lebron James as the youngest player in NBA history to record multiple triple-double games,” according to the press release.
Ball and Kuzma — along with Brandon Ingram — were selected along with seven other NBA rookies and sophomore players to play in the Mtn Dew Kickstart Rising Stars Game at the NBA All-Star 2018.
