
5. Los Angeles Lakers Kyle Kuzma
2017-18 GP: 77 PPG: 16.1 RPG: 6.3 FG%: .450
When the Los Angeles Lakers picked 2nd at the 2017 NBA Draft picking local product Lonzo Ball got them in the news for plenty of reasons, but it was a late first-round draft pick that proved to be a shrewd long term move.
Kyle Kuzma was drafted 27th by the Brooklyn Nets for the Lakers in a drat day trade, Kuzma was that rare NBA draft product that played three years in college making all-Pac12 first team as a junior for the Utah Utes.
Kuzma made an immediate impact on the Lakers averaging 16.7 points and shooting 50.4 from the floor and 37.9 percent from three-point land over his first 20 games and being named NBA Rookie of the Month.
Kuzma was chosen to the All-Star Weekend Rising Stars game and would be named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team over Lonzo Ball who made the Second Team, not bad for someone who was an afterthought on draft night.
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