Lakers are the Summer League Champions
By Tadi Abedje
Kyle Kuzma was a man on a mission as he performed brilliantly with Lonzo Ball watching from the sidelines as the Lakers took down the Portland Trail Blazers, 110 to 98 in the Summer League championship game. The team shot 61.5 percent from the floor, made 14 out of 24 on three point shots and 84.2 percent from the charity stripe. The 27th overall pick could not be touched as he scored 30 points by shooting 11 of 16 from the field, six for 10 from three point land and 10 rebounds.
He battled all game by playing on both sides of the floor whether it was attacking the basket, knocking down threes and guarding his man. One of his biggest highlights of the game was when he hit a buzzer beating shot from three feet above the three point arc at the end of the third quarter.
Kuzma was named the championship game MVP for his outing and had averaged almost 22 points as he shot 51.4 percent from the floor, made 24 of 50 three point shots and 6.4 rebounds per game this summer.
“Anything is possible if you put your mind to it, you got belief in yourself and nobody can tell you nothing,” said the MVP. He added that shooting threes wasn’t a part of his game in college but will keep working on his shot to improve his entire game.
There were other players that stepped up their game to compliment the rookie from Utah like Matt Thomas, who scored 23 points on 88.9 percent shooting, including making all five of his three point attempts. Vander Blue had 20 on seven of 12 shooting, five of six on free throws, six assists and five rebounds. Alex Caruso, who was inserted into the starting lineup, had 15, including making all seven of his free throw attempts, nine assists and seven rebounds in 35 minutes. Ivica Zubac scored 12 and grabbed nine rebounds.
For Portland, they had a great run to the championship game but they could not close the deal. In total, the team only shot 43.7 percent, made 13 of 33 from beyond the arc and 64.3 percent from the free throw line.
Big man Caleb Swanigan, who was the Blazers’ first round pick this year, led them in scoring with 25 on eight of 18, made 7 of 8 from the charity stripe, 12 rebounds, seven assists and three steals in 35 minutes of play. Jake Layman had 21, made five of eight threes, seven rebounds and two assists. Jarnell Stokes had 16 points, five rebounds and three steals. Jorge Gutiérrez, who signed with their Summer League team, scored 14 points and dished out five assists. RJ Hunter, who was Celtics’ first round pick from Georgia State, knocked in 11 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Key Notes:
This was the Lakers’ first title in Summer League history. Lonzo Ball, who did not play because of a nagging calf injury, was named MVP of the entire Summer League as he averaged 16.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 7.7 rebounds per game.