On Saturday, Kyle Kuzma turned in a rough performance against the Indiana Pacers in what might have been the worst outing of his eight-year NBA career. Kuzma played 22 minutes in the Milwaukee Bucks’ playoff opener and finished with zero points, zero rebounds, zero assists, zero blocks, and zero steals. He went 0-for-5 from the field and missed both of his free throws.
It was a stunning stat line for a player the Bucks were counting on in the postseason. For someone brought in to help make a title push, Kuzma’s Game 1 effort did the opposite.
Kendrick Perkins Rips Kyle Kuzma After Flat Playoff Debut
Former NBA big man Kendrick Perkins has never been one to hold back, and he didn’t waste any time sharing his thoughts on Kuzma’s performance.
“Can somebody tell Kuzma that the Playoffs has started. Jesus Christ,” Perkins posted on X.
Can somebody tell Kuzma that the Playoffs has started. Jesus Christ
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins)
Perkins, now an ESPN analyst, knows a thing or two about the postseason. He played in 143 playoff games over nine seasons and won a title with the Boston Celtics in 2008. During his career, he shared the court with future Hall of Famers like Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Kevin Durant, and Russell Westbrook.
When Milwaukee traded longtime forward and fan favorite Khris Middleton in a deal to land Kuzma, the move raised eyebrows. Middleton, part of the Bucks’ 2021 championship core, had seen a decline in production and health over the last few seasons. Milwaukee saw Kuzma as a younger, more durable upgrade with more scoring upside.
Kuzma, a 6-foot-9 forward, had shown consistent numbers throughout his career. Since entering the league, he has started in 408 games and posted career averages of 17.0 points and 6.3 rebounds. From the 2021-22 season on, he hadn’t averaged fewer than 14.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in any season. He was expected to be a strong third option behind Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
That’s what made Saturday’s showing so jarring — not just for fans, but for analysts as well.
Kuzma Makes Wrong Kind of History With Brutal Game 1 Stat Line
According to Yahoo Sports, Kuzma became just the sixth player in NBA playoff history to record zeros across the board after logging at least 20 minutes in a game. The last player to do it was Mike Dunleavy Jr. for the Chicago Bulls in 2015.
For a player expected to make a difference in Milwaukee’s postseason run, Kuzma’s Game 1 showing wasn’t just disappointing — it was historic, and not in a good way.
