Kyle Kuzma
Photo: Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images

Kyle Kuzma was the top scorer for the Los Angeles Lakers with 25 points in season-high 42 minutes but it wasn’t enough for the Purple & Gold to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers.

With LeBron James and Anthony Davis being out due to injuries, the reigning NBA champions are in need of other players stepping up and taking a leadership role.

Following the loss, Frank Vogel, the head coach of the Lakers, was asked about Kuzma’s leadership. “He’s got a healthy spirit. He really does,” he said.

“He’s got a great mindset to come in and give maximum effort, plays extremely hard on both sides of the ball. The mental piece of it I do think has picked up in the absence of LeBron and AD. Trying like the rest of our guys to talk things out on the floor and figure out the game. So he’s doing a great job.”