Lakers: Which “Rising Star” is most likely to make an all-star team first?

2. Kyle Kuzma

Kyle Kuzma has been the surprise of the NBA season, period. Donovan Mitchell has been stealing the “sleeper” spotlight from Kuzma as he has been a legitimate all-star this season. However, what I often remind people: Mitchell was still a lottery selection at the end of the day. Kuzma very likely would have fallen to the second round if the Lakers did not scoop him up.

Kuzma has played like a lottery pick though and has given the Lakers a far better rookie year than Julius Randle, D’Angelo Russell, Brandon Ingram or Lonzo Ball have. Thus, many fans probably share the consensus that Kuzma will be the first all-star for the Lakers.

However, I would argue that he will not be. Kuzma certainly is capable of making the NBA All-Star Game next season, that is without a doubt. If his scoring improves, as it should, he easily could be a 20 points per game guy while flirting with 10 rebounds. That is all-star worthy.

However, I do not think Kuzma will progress as fast as everyone thinks. He is immensely talented, that is without a doubt. But, I would argue that Kuzma is closer to his ceiling than Ball or Ingram. Ingram and Ball can progress into superstars; I don’t see that in Kuzma. He will be an all-star, but no superstar.

Because of that, I think Kuzma will ultimately be beaten out to be the first Lakers’ all-star since Kobe. Still, though, Kuzma will be an all-star in the future. You can count on that.