Kyle Kuzma Bio
Kyle Alexander Kuzma (born July 24, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A versatile forward listed at 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) and 221 lb (100 kg), he plays both power forward and small forward. Kuzma gained national attention as a rookie with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017–18, won an NBA championship with the Lakers in 2020, and has since built a reputation as a scoring forward with a smooth outside shot. He wears jersey No. 18 for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Early Life and Background
Kyle Alexander Kuzma was born on July 24, 1995, in Flint, Michigan. He is the son of Karri Kuzma, a former high school shot put champion who attended college on a track scholarship. Kuzma has a younger half-brother named Andre and a younger half-sister named Briana, and he met his biological father, Larry Smith, only once as an infant. As a child, Kuzma and his family installed a toy basketball rim in the living room when he was just two years old, an early moment he has credited with sparking his lifelong love of the game.
Kuzma has spoken openly about growing up in Flint, describing the city as a challenging environment while calling basketball his safe haven. He 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 highlight tapes to prep 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, drawing offers from several Division I programs.
Path to Basketball
After weighing offers from schools including Connecticut, Iowa State, Tennessee, and Missouri, Kuzma chose to attend the University of Utah. He enrolled in 2013 and redshirted his freshman year because he signed his national letter of intent late. He became a starter for the Utah Utes during his sophomore season, averaging 10.8 points per game and showcasing the offensive versatility that would soon attract NBA scouts.
As a junior in 2016–17, Kuzma elevated his production, posting 16.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game on his way to first-team All-Pac-12 honors. Following the season, he declared for the 2017 NBA draft, forgoing his final year of college eligibility. Kuzma later graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in sociology.
Kyle Kuzma Career
Early Career (2014–2017)
Kuzma’s college development at Utah laid the foundation for his professional transition. After redshirting his first year, he steadily expanded his role, growing from a 10.8-point-per-game scorer as a sophomore into one of the most productive forwards in the Pac-12 as a junior. His All-Pac-12 selection in 2016–17 confirmed his status as a legitimate NBA prospect.
By the end of his junior season, Kuzma was widely viewed as a polished scoring forward with the size, skill, and rebounding instincts to translate his game to the next level. His decision to enter the 2017 NBA draft set the stage for his rapid rise in professional basketball.
NBA Breakthrough with the Los Angeles Lakers (2017–2021)
Kuzma was selected with the 27th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft by the Brooklyn Nets. He was immediately traded, along with Brook Lopez, to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov. Many analysts had projected Kuzma as a second-round pick, making his first-round selection a notable surprise. On July 3, 2017, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Lakers and quickly made his mark during the 2017 NBA Summer League, averaging 21.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game, and earning Summer League Championship Game MVP honors.
His rookie regular season was equally impressive. On November 3, 2017, Kuzma recorded his first double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds in a win over the Brooklyn Nets. He went on to score a career-high 38 points on December 20, 2017, in a win over the Houston Rockets that snapped a 14-game Houston winning streak, and he became the first Lakers rookie since Jerry West in 1961 to score 25 or more points in three consecutive games. He was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month and finished the year on the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
In his second season, Kuzma set a new career high with 41 points against the Detroit Pistons on January 9, 2019, and won MVP honors at the Rising Stars Challenge during the 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend. He played a supporting role on the 2019–20 Lakers team that won the 2020 NBA championship, including scoring a game-winning three-pointer against the Denver Nuggets during the regular season. On December 21, 2020, he signed a three-year, $40 million contract extension with the Lakers.
Washington Wizards Era (2021–2025)
On August 6, 2021, Kuzma was traded to the Washington Wizards as part of the package that sent Russell Westbrook to Los Angeles. He made his Wizards debut on October 20, 2021, recording eleven points, 15 rebounds, and three assists in a win over the Toronto Raptors. He quickly became a focal point of the Wizards’ offense, highlighted by a season-high 36 points against the Charlotte Hornets on January 3, 2022, a career-high 22 rebounds against the Orlando Magic on January 9, 2022, and his first career triple-double against the Brooklyn Nets on February 10, 2022.
Over the next three seasons, Kuzma delivered several clutch performances, including a game-winning three-pointer against the Chicago Bulls on January 11, 2023, and a 40-point outing against the New York Knicks two days later. On June 20, 2023, he declined his $13 million player option to test free agency, but on June 30, 2023, he signed a four-year, $102 million contract to remain in Washington.
Milwaukee Bucks Era (2025–Present)
On February 6, 2025, Kuzma was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in a multi-team deal. He debuted the following night, scoring twelve points and grabbing seven rebounds in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks. In the Bucks’ first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, Kuzma struggled to find a rhythm, finishing the series with averages of 5.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game as Milwaukee was eliminated in five games.
As the 2025–26 season progressed, Kuzma found his footing in Milwaukee’s rotation. On December 11, 2025, he scored a season-high 31 points in a win over the Boston Celtics, and on March 10, 2026, he added 33 points on 6-of-10 three-point shooting against the Phoenix Suns. His scoring bursts have provided the Bucks with a secondary offensive option alongside the team’s established stars.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kuzma is best known for his smooth, midrange scoring touch and an increasingly reliable three-point shot. At 6 ft 8 in, he combines the size to rebound and finish inside with the perimeter skills of a wing, allowing him to play both power forward and small forward. His scoring instincts and ability to create his own shot off the dribble have made him a valuable complementary scorer throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Kuzma’s career include his 2018 NBA All-Rookie First Team selection, his 2020 NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, his first career triple-double in 2022, and his four-year, $102 million contract extension with the Washington Wizards in 2023. He also joined the UIM E1 World Championship team Sierra Racing Club as co-owner and global brand ambassador in April 2026.
Kyle Kuzma Career Wins
Across his NBA career, Kyle Alexander Kuzma has established himself as a consistent scorer and versatile forward. His biggest win came in 2020, when he helped the Los Angeles Lakers capture the NBA championship, and he has followed that with multiple individual scoring milestones in Washington and Milwaukee.
NBA Highlights
Kuzma’s most prominent team achievement is the 2020 NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, the franchise’s 17th title. Among his individual highlights, he scored a career-high 41 points against the Detroit Pistons on January 9, 2019, recorded his first career triple-double against the Brooklyn Nets on February 10, 2022, and posted a season-high 36 points against the Charlotte Hornets on January 3, 2022. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2018 and earned MVP honors at the Rising Stars Challenge during the 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend.
Other Wins and Performances
Before the NBA, Kuzma was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2016–17 at the University of Utah and earned MVP honors at the 2017 NBA Summer League Championship Game. He has also co-founded the fitness beverage company Drink Barcode, which emerged after one of its drink formulas was used during the 2020 NBA Finals.
Kyle Kuzma Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kuzma’s family background is rooted in Flint, Michigan, where he was raised 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 met his biological father, Larry Smith, only once as an infant. Karri Kuzma and Smith installed a toy basketball rim in the living room when Kyle was two years old, a small moment that helped launch his basketball journey.
Personal Life
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. Kuzma has also pursued business interests outside basketball, co-founding the Drink Barcode fitness water brand and joining Sierra Racing Club as co-owner and global brand ambassador in April 2026.
2025 Season Performance
Kuzma’s 2025 season was defined by a midyear transition. After beginning the year with the Washington Wizards, he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks on February 6, 2025, and debuted the following night against the Atlanta Hawks. His first playoff run with Milwaukee was difficult, as he averaged 5.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game in a first-round loss to the Indiana Pacers, including a scoreless Game 1 in which he recorded zeros across the major statistical categories.
As the 2025–26 season unfolded, Kuzma settled into a more consistent offensive role with the Bucks. He scored 31 points in a December 11, 2025 win over the Boston Celtics and added 33 points against the Phoenix Suns on March 10, 2026. His scoring punch has helped stabilize the Bucks’ second unit, while his long-term contract, which runs through 2029, signals the franchise’s continued confidence in his role.
