THE newly established four-point line in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has garnered a lot of criticisms over the last few weeks.
But what is the opinion of an active NBA player?
Washington Wizards player Kyle Kuzma weighs in.
Kuzma landed on Sunday to host a number of events, including basketball clinics, for his KuzManila 2024 Asia Tour. This was his first trip to the Philippines, and the experience has been remarkable thus far.
Nonetheless, his Filipino fans wasted no time in asking the NBA player about his thoughts on the PBA’s four-point line and whether it lowers the league’s standards.
Kuzma’s take
Despite having a busy day after being surrounded by countless fans, the former Los Angeles Lakers NBA Champion answered the most popular question in the Philippines thus far.
“I’m a fan, 100%. I think it’s good for the game. It allows more space, and at the end of the day, a lot of us [in the NBA] shoot deep threes anyways,” said Kuzma, a native of Flint, Michigan.
“It’s kind of a bad shot in the NBA if you take a deep shot from that far because the three-point line is just right there, but a lot of us can shoot from that far.”
Photo Courtesy: Quezon City Government | Facebook
Despite the fact that this is an unpopular opinion, the 6-foot-9 forward who takes a lot of outside shots believes that if this were introduced in the NBA, not only would players but also fans enjoy it.
“I think it would be more dramatic in the NBA, and fans would like it too. Steph would probably have more points too,” Kuzma joked of the topic on if it were to be implemented in their own league.
In spite of having an NBA player voice his perspective, some fans’ opinions on the subject remains unchanged. Meanwhile, some remain optimistic that it will eventually be approved.
“1979 lang naman nag-adopt ng 3-point line ang NBA at joke lang rin ang tingin nila doon during early years. Hindi naman ganon kasama ang ideya at kung NBA ang nag-implement ng 4-point line, Curry fans will rejoice,” a netizen said.
Time of his life
Putting aside the PBA controversy, Kuzma expressed that he is having a great time in the Philippines. He’s heard a lot about the country since then, which makes him even more excited to visit.
“I went straight to MOA. That was a blast, super, super fun, and this is my first time here,” said Kuzma, who immediately went straight to the Mall of Asia for a meet and greet with his fans.
Photo Courtesy: Quezon City Government | Facebook
“I’ve always wanted to go here. I have a bunch of Filipino friends like Jordan Clarkson and Jalen Green, and two of my barbers are actually Filipinos, in the States. So I’ve heard much about this place so I’m really excited to be here.”
Kuzma also stated that he expected a large number of fans as he played for the Purple and Gold, knowing that many Filipinos are avid Laker fans. The late Kobe Bryant provided him a glimpse of how insane his previous Asia visits had been.
“I didn’t expect that many people, but I expected it to be pretty crazy just because I know this fanbase from just being a Laker. I’ve been friends with Kobe and we talked about Asia and his travels and understanding that this is a crazy market for basketball,” Kuzma added.
Nonetheless, Filipino fans are ecstatic to finally see him up close. Not to mention the number of children who spent the afternoon with the NBA star and played with him. A core memory for these young sportsmen.
