Kyle Kuzma has been seduced by the power of being the No. 1 option on an NBA team. As the leading scorer for the Washington Wizards, he’s the closest thing to a star in the market. In the NBA, merely averaging 20 points per game makes you a star in the eyes of many. Ultimately, the goal is to win games, though, right? And that’s something the Wizards have done at a lower clip than any other team aside from Detroit. So, when presented with the opportunity to join the Dallas Mavericks, of course, Kuz turned that down to stay in the nation’s capital.
“Winger presented me with what the trade was and obviously didn’t want to trade me and kind of left the decision up to me a little bit and asked me what I wanted to do. I told him I wanted to stay and continue to build something. And that was kind of the end of it.” – Kyle Kuzma
The delusion of some people can be astonishing. Kuzma wants to stay in Washington D.C. to build something with the Wizards. It’s obvious that after being in the DMV for a few years, along with the departure of Bradley Beal, Kuzma enjoys being the man. Especially after most thought Jordan Poole would show up and usurp that role.
Kuzma isn’t ready to be kicked back down the ladder into a second- or third-banana role, which is what he’d be, at best, in Dallas. Unless you’ve been in a cave with Aaron Rodgers the past few years, everyone knows Luka Dončić is the man, followed by Kyrie Irving and then everybody else on the Mavs. Kuz wasn’t trying to go there and watch all his offensive numbers take a nosedive into an American Airlines Center toilet.
All the attention on social media and the notoriety he’s achieved in the DC market is something most players can only dream of attaining. It looks like Kuzma’s going to ride this out for as long as he can. Even being the man on the worst team in the Association has its perks. If you’re that guy you may still be given preferential treatment in the team’s city/community. Clearly, Kuz cherishes that, so let the dude bask in his moment of glory.
Although he would’ve been a nice piece to Dallas’ puzzle in North Texas, third options don’t get paid what No. 1 guys do in the NBA. Even No. 1 options on bad teams can get themselves max deals. He says the choice was to stay and “build something” in Washington. Sounds more like building his bank account which isn’t a problem, get your money, young man. But we all know the Wizards aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
That franchise is almost more of a mess than the city’s football team. Oh, wait, they’re called the Commanders now. What Kuzma did is commendable and will certainly win him points with what’s left of the Wizards’ fan base, but if he thinks that team is going anywhere but to the top of the lottery, he’s lost his mind.
