The Rush: Kyle Kuzma dishes on hoops, the fate of his pink sweater and his love of golf
Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma is on The Rush, dishing on his breakout season this year, why he won’t be an NBA GM any time soon, whether or not we’ll ever see his famous oversized pink sweater again and how boredom in the NBA bubble helped him find a new passion. Plus, you can watch Kyle take his talents to the golf course on Skratch, where he hits the links with Roger Steele at Washington D.C.’s historic Langston Golf Course.
Video Transcript
JARED QUAY: Now playing golf, do you have a different opinion on Charles Barkley and his swing. Now is do appreciate, it or do you like it? Is that easier or harder to do?
[GOLF BALL HIT]
[CROWD GASPS]
- Yeah, baby.
KYLE KUZMA: I mean, at the end of the day, you got to think you know, body mechanics, everybody has a different way to swing. Everybody shoots a basketball different. It's no different. Everyone swings the golf club different.
Honestly, you know, I would never swing like that. I like to think of myself as trying to have pitch perfect form. But I mean, if it works for you, it works for you. Like, if they ain't broke, don't fix it.
What's up, everybody. I'm here with Washington Wizards Ford and NBA champion Kyle Kuzma. How are you doing today, Kuz?
KYLE KUZMA: Jared, how are you doing, my man? I'm good.
JARED QUAY: I'm good, man. So look, you've been balling this season in Washington. What is it? Is it the weather, the cold, the politics? What about Washington got you, taking your game to a different level?
- People really realize Kuzma will challenge Embiid and slow it down.
KYLE KUZMA: I don't know if it's the politics, but I'm just in a great position. I work hard in my game to improve. And you know, I have an opportunity to play in Washington. It's been great for me.
JARED QUAY: I saw you had a hilarious tweet about trying to package Ben Simmons for a trade. And so maybe have to basketball, is there some kind of GM and in your future?
KYLE KUZMA: Nah, I don't know about that one. I'm a trade-- trade machine GM. You know, I don't qualify be a GM or if I even would want to be one. But yeah, I know how to have a hard time dealing with that for sure.
JARED QUAY: You became one of the fashion symbols of the NBA. Your fashion game is on 1,000. Who are your style influences?
KYLE KUZMA: You know, it's just whatever I kind of feel like wearing at this point. You know what I mean? Like, I draw inspiration from like, just a whole bunch of things you know, in life.
JARED QUAY: So what happens after you finish? After you get the outfit out, after you take the photos, does it ever come on again, or is it one of those things, you just got like a Kuz' closet that just with nothing but like valuables, huh.
KYLE KUZMA: No, I mean, a lot of my-- I mean, damn near everything I have I wear again at some point, you know. I mean, when you spend money, you know, you want to get your money's worth. So you know, there's certain things I may not wear. You know, obviously like, a pink sweater. I'm probably not going to wear that again, unless I'm in the crib. And it's cold you know what I'm saying?
JARED QUAY: So you recently started playing golf. And so we were just talking about fashion. What golfer gots the best swag, man? Who got the best drip?
KYLE KUZMA: That's tough. I don't know. I think Rickie Fowler has got a lot of spunk, man. I like Ricky, man. He's just like, he's got a certain type of swagger when he golfs. You know, just him as a human being. I could just see him just like, he's that cool, that cool dude.
JARED QUAY: Ricky send you on the court and the course in a new episode of "Skratch" with Roger Steele.
ROGER STEELE: Now, what are you think about right now? I know you're early in your golf experience, but like--
KYLE KUZMA: I'm just praying for the best right now.
ROGER STEELE: You're praying for the best.
KYLE KUZMA: OK, I just-- I just want to hit it straight.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
ROGER STEELE: I think that we are away from here.
KYLE KUZMA: Keep it in play.
JARED QUAY: When did you start playing golf?
KYLE KUZMA: You know, I started playing golf when we were in the NBA bubble. That's when I first really got into golf, and really exploring it. Because in the bubble, we had nothing to do. Like, it was basketball, you go in your room. So like, you know, if you want to get some sunshine, the golf course was the place to go.
And ever since then, I just fell in love with it. You know, it's great sport to get your mind off things you know, in life. And it teaches you-- it teaches you a lot. It teaches you to be humble. It teaches you to you know, stay even keel because you can have a great shot-- hole eight, and then you know, you're ready to finish off. And next hit, double bogey.
You never know what's going to happen. So you know, I find it a challenge, but it's extremely fun.
JARED QUAY: What is golf taught you about basketball? How does golf help you with your basketball game?
KYLE KUZMA: Oh, extremely amount. You know, just from a mental standpoint in how focused you have to be on every single shot. You know, that's huge because in golf, you have to try to hit the ball perfect every time. So you take that analogy to bat, I got to shoot the ball the same every single time if I can.
So you know, from that aspect and also just even keeled mindset you know, because on a basketball court, so many things are getting thrown at you within milliseconds. And you know, it's always important to stay calm, and-- and just think things through on the court at real time, so.
JARED QUAY: What's more difficult for our average person to hit a logo of three pointer or a 15-foot putt?
KYLE KUZMA: Oh man, the putt's definitely harder.
JARED QUAY: Oh, [LAUGHS]
KYLE KUZMA: I mean, because the putt-- the putt is harder, I would say. Because I feel like, for a regular person, you can just-- you know, if you're strong enough, you could just heave the damn ball at the rim. It might go in, you know what I mean? Like, the rim is pretty-- the rim is pretty round, you know. And the golf hole is like--
JARED QUAY: [LAUGHS] Well Kyle, man, I appreciate you coming on a rest for me today, man. Good luck with hoops, and your golf season, man. The golf game, man. You go out there and get on the tees, man. Hope you hit a great handicaps, bro.
KYLE KUZMA: Thank you, bro. I appreciate you.
