Kyle Kuzma Bio
Kyle Alexander Kuzma, born July 24, 1995, is an American professional basketball player who competes in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Milwaukee Bucks. A versatile forward known for his scoring touch and rebounding, Kuzma first gained national attention during his junior year at the University of Utah, where he earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors. Selected 27th overall in the 2017 NBA draft, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team with the Los Angeles Lakers the following season and later won an NBA championship with the franchise in 2020. After a stint with the Washington Wizards, Kuzma joined the Milwaukee Bucks in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Kyle Alexander Kuzma was born on July 24, 1995, in Flint, Michigan, to Karri Kuzma, a former high school shot put champion who attended college on a track scholarship. He has a younger half-brother, Andre, and a younger half-sister, Briana, and he has described himself as biracial. Kuzma met his biological father, Larry Smith, only once as an infant, and he came to view the father of his half-siblings as a father figure.
Kuzma has often spoken about the challenges of growing up in Flint, a city he has called a difficult place with strong street temptations. He found refuge from that environment through basketball, which he has described as his safe haven. When Kyle was just two years old, his mother and Smith installed a toy basketball rim in the living room, an early moment that helped spark his lifelong passion for the game.
Kuzma attended Swartz Creek Community Schools before transferring to Bentley High School in Burton, Michigan, where he averaged 17.9 points, 14.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 3.4 blocks per game as a junior. Seeking a higher level of competition, he sent shooting tapes to several preparatory schools and was recruited by Vin Sparacio, the head coach at Rise Academy in Philadelphia. As a senior at Rise Academy, Kuzma averaged 22 points and seven rebounds per game, which drew scholarship offers from programs including Connecticut, Iowa State, Tennessee, and Missouri.
Path to Basketball
After weighing several Division I options, Kyle Alexander Kuzma committed to the University of Utah, where he enrolled in 2013. Because he signed late, he redshirted his freshman year and adjusted to the college game before earning a starting role as a sophomore, when he averaged 10.8 points per game for the Utes.
His development accelerated in his junior season of 2016–17, when he posted averages of 16.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game on his way to first-team All-Pac-12 recognition. Following that breakout campaign, Kuzma declared for the 2017 NBA draft, forgoing his final year of eligibility. He later completed his sociology degree at the University of Utah.
Kyle Kuzma Career
Draft and Rookie Year (2017–2018)
Kyle Alexander Kuzma was selected with the 27th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft by the Brooklyn Nets, but he was immediately dealt, along with Brook Lopez, to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov. A player once projected as a second-round pick, Kuzma signed his rookie scale contract with the Lakers on July 3, 2017.
He wasted little time showcasing his skills, leading the Lakers in scoring during the 2017 NBA Summer League with 21.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game. Kuzma was named the Summer League Championship Game MVP after a 30-point, 10-rebound double-double in a 110–98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, and he was later selected to the All-Summer League Second Team.
Los Angeles Lakers Breakthrough (2017–2021)
Kuzma made an immediate impact as a rookie, recording his first double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds in a 124–112 win over the Brooklyn Nets on November 3, 2017. Two weeks later, he notched 30 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to the Phoenix Suns, and he was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for October and November. He became the first NBA rookie ever to record at least 330 points, 120 rebounds, and 30 made three-pointers in his first 20 games. On December 20, 2017, Kuzma erupted for a career-high 38 points on 70 percent shooting in a 122–116 win over the Houston Rockets, snapping their 14-game winning streak. He capped his debut season by earning NBA All-Rookie First Team honors and playing in the Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star Weekend.
In his second year, Kuzma scored a season-high 37 points against the San Antonio Spurs on October 22, 2018, and he later posted a career-high 41 points in a 113–100 win over the Detroit Pistons on January 9, 2019. He returned to the Rising Stars game and earned MVP honors with a game-high 35 points. During the 2019–20 season, Kuzma played a supporting role on a title-contending Lakers squad, scoring a game-winning three-pointer against the Denver Nuggets on August 10, 2020, and helping Los Angeles capture the 2020 NBA championship in the Orlando bubble. On December 21, 2020, he signed a three-year, $40 million contract extension with the team.
Washington Wizards Era (2021–2025)
On August 6, 2021, Kyle Alexander Kuzma was traded to the Washington Wizards as part of the package for Russell Westbrook. He debuted for Washington with 11 points, 15 rebounds, and three assists in a 98–83 win over the Toronto Raptors on October 20, 2021, and he later delivered a clutch performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 10, hitting four fourth-quarter three-pointers, including two in the final 30 seconds, to lift the Wizards to a 97–94 victory.
Over the next several seasons, Kuzma became a featured scorer in Washington. He scored a season-high 36 points alongside 14 rebounds and six assists in a win over the Charlotte Hornets on January 3, 2022, grabbed a career-high 22 rebounds against the Orlando Magic on January 9, 2022, and recorded his first career triple-double in a 113–112 win over the Brooklyn Nets on February 10, 2022. In 2022–23, he hit a game-winning three-pointer against the Chicago Bulls on January 11, 2023, and followed it up with a 40-point performance in a loss to the New York Knicks. On June 30, 2023, Kuzma signed a four-year, $102 million deal to remain with the Wizards.
Milwaukee Bucks Era (2025–Present)
On February 6, 2025, Kyle Alexander Kuzma was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a multi-team deal. He made his Bucks debut the following night, scoring 12 points and grabbing seven rebounds in a 107–112 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. In the playoffs, Kuzma and the Bucks were eliminated in five games by the Indiana Pacers, with Kuzma averaging 5.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game in the series.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 6 feet 9 inches tall, Kyle Alexander Kuzma brings a scoring-oriented skill set to the forward position, with the ability to stretch the floor from beyond the arc, finish around the rim, and rebound on both ends. He is comfortable creating his own shot in isolation, and his versatility allows coaches to use him at multiple positions in modern NBA lineups.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Kyle Alexander Kuzma’s signature accomplishments are his 2020 NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, his 2017–18 NBA All-Rookie First Team selection, and a career-high 41-point performance against the Detroit Pistons. He also became the first NBA rookie to compile 330 points, 120 rebounds, and 30 made three-pointers in his first 20 games.
Kyle Kuzma Career Wins
Kyle Alexander Kuzma’s most celebrated victory came in 2020, when he helped the Los Angeles Lakers win the NBA championship. He has also earned individual recognition, including NBA All-Rookie First Team honors in 2018 and first-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2017, and he has posted multiple 30-point and 40-point games throughout his NBA career.
NBA Highlights
Kuzma’s NBA win total includes an NBA championship in 2020 with the Los Angeles Lakers. He has produced several late-game heroics, including game-winning three-pointers against the Denver Nuggets in 2020, the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2021, the Detroit Pistons in 2021, and the Chicago Bulls in 2023.
Other Wins and Performances
Before reaching the NBA, Kyle Alexander Kuzma starred at Rise Academy, where he averaged 22 points and seven rebounds as a senior, and at the University of Utah, where his junior-year play earned him first-team All-Pac-12 honors and recognition as one of the top forwards in the Pac-12 Conference.
Kyle Kuzma Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kyle Alexander Kuzma was raised in Flint, Michigan, by his mother, Karri Kuzma, a former high school shot put champion who attended college on a track scholarship. He has a younger half-brother, Andre, and a younger half-sister, Briana, and he has credited his family with providing a stable environment that supported his early basketball development.
Personal Life
Kyle Alexander Kuzma has been in a relationship with Canadian model Winnie Harlow since 2020. The couple announced their engagement via social media on February 19, 2025. Outside of basketball, Kuzma co-founded Drink Barcode, a fitness water beverage brand, with former New York Knicks performance director Bar Malik after the two met in 2020.
2025 Season Performance
Kyle Alexander Kuzma began the 2025 NBA season with the Washington Wizards before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks on February 6, 2025, in a multi-team deal. He made his Bucks debut the next night, finishing with 12 points and seven rebounds in a narrow loss to the Atlanta Hawks. The trade gave Milwaukee a versatile scoring forward for the stretch run of the regular season.
In the postseason, Kuzma and the Bucks faced the Indiana Pacers in the first round and were eliminated in five games. Kuzma’s statistical production was limited during the series, and his Game 1 stat line drew attention as one of the few instances in postseason history in which a player recorded zeros across the major categories. Head coach Doc Rivers attributed the performance to a lack of touches, and Kuzma finished the series averaging 5.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game.
Looking ahead, Kuzma is signed through the 2028–29 season under a four-year, $102 million contract, giving him long-term stability in Milwaukee. His combination of scoring versatility, rebounding, and perimeter shooting gives the Bucks a flexible option at the forward positions, and his development alongside the team’s core will be a key storyline to watch in the seasons to come.