One of the most endearing things about this young Lakers squad is the friendships that have blossomed this season, particularly between talented rookies Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma. But like a lot of young men, that friendship entails a lot of good-natured ribbing at one another’s expense.
The two have ruthlessly traded barbs throughout the season, much of which has played itself out on social media but more recently took the form of a diss track Lonzo dropped this week called “Kylie Kuzma.” However, that track veered into some decidedly not-so-good-natured territory, as diss tracks are wont to do, with Lonzo savagely going after Kuzma’s upbringing, namely the fact that he was raised not knowing his biological father.
Apparently, that was enough to raise some hackles around the Lakers’ front office, reportedly prompting them to step in and ask the boys to cool it.
Via Ramona Shelburne and Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN:
Sources said the team spoke to both players and that there are no lingering issues and that both players agreed to tone down the joking insults on social media. After dealing with a social media fiasco involving the D’Angelo Russell-Nick Young video in 2016, the Lakers wanted to make sure to nip things in the bud before the potential of anything escalating.
The organization faces one of its biggest offseasons in recent memory as they prepare to make a run at one or both of LeBron James and Paul George when free agency begins on July 1 and are clearly trying to avoid any potentially sour publicity that could undermine those efforts.
The Ball family already curries plenty of media attention, and the organization would obviously prefer to avoid any unwanted scrutiny. It also bears mentioning that the team has stated flatly that all options are on the table this summer and that none of their young stars are “untouchable” when it comes to making a play for one of the aforementioned marquee free agents.
Translation: Ball and Kuzma have to tread lightly this summer as both theirs and their team’s future hangs in the balance.
(ESPN)
