Kyle Kuzma’s Three-Day Love Affair with Manila

The Philippines has long been home away from home to wonderful NBA talents who over the years have inspired Filipinos in ways beyond artistic methods of putting a ball through a hoop.

These basketball icons are more than superstars. They inspire. It speaks to our collective fascination for a game that has the ability to bring culture, industry, and generations together.

Kyle Kuzma spent the last few days in Manila where ALL-STAR had all-access to events during his trip that was aptly named #KuzManila. It was the next stop in his Asian tour after doing promotional events and playing an exhibition match alongside NBA stars Jimmy Butler, James Harden, and Paul George in Hong Kong.

After deplaning his flight, the first thing he did was sit on the couch of the VIP lounge at NAIA 3 and ate not one but two of leche flan donuts offered to him, then spoke of what he learned from Fil-Ams Jalen Green, Jordan Clarkson, and his Filipino barbers. A boisterous Metro Manila basketball community awaited him outside. He then attended to a caffeinated crowd at the atrium of the Mall of Asia, receiving showers of applause and admiration. “Kuz, I love you, man!” played over and over again. He seemed more surprised at the reception he got compared to the people who were witnessing an NBA player in the flesh – the first time for many of them.

Athletic figures have a human side just the same as everybody else.

Kuzma’s actions were genuine. His answers to questions were thoughtful. He accommodated photo and video requests, even going viral online. By the way, what ingredients are in your spaghetti? He came to Manila with the goal of embracing a new culture and learning what he could despite the short stay. Quality had precedence over quantity.

He wasn’t shy to help others learn as well.

“Who’s the GOAT?”

“Kobe.”

He shared tales about LeBron, AD, and the mighty 2020 world champion Lakers. He opened up about how that core team’s run was ended shorter than it should have been. He reflected on what it will take for Washington to make the playoffs. Heck, he even provided insight on what a 4-point shot can do for the NBA. Thanks for the idea, PBA.

Kuzma showed off his fits and spoke about fashion. He opened up about the ink that covers his body, each design having a significant meaning or core memory. Did you know that “Kuzma” means the universe? He explained his sun, moon, and rising Astrological signs. It felt as if the 29-year-old was sharing more than listening. That was natural. He was the celebrity guest, the one that everybody came out for. That didn’t stop him from observing anyway.

He knew what he wanted to eat: chicken adobo and lechon. He followed every TikTok dance request from creators. He happily chomped on Pillows. He learned the Pinoy Step. He taught kids how to hoop, but decided to swat some shots as well. He met with sports officials of the country.

“Kamusta ka, bro?” he asked Kobe Paras, who was ecstatic.

He spoke about his business endeavors in a summit. He added to his cigar collection. He made sure to get a workout before his flight to London.

“I like to be in culture, you know, feel what it’s like to be a citizen somewhere, you know?” he told ALL-STAR Magazine in our cover story interview.

Kyle spoke of his mother, Karri, and understanding the values of hard work from a single parent who until this day works with the purpose of helping others through his foundation. And handle a massage spa on the side, of course. An athlete herself, she remains his biggest critic after tough performances.

“My mom is such a huge inspiration to me,” Kyle shared. “Just the way she carried herself, carried us, and cared for us.”

With the Wizards he’s enjoyed the best numbers of his NBA career and the lucrative payday it has provided. He knows they’re developing under new front office leadership but doesn’t see a reason why they can’t compete for a play-in spot in the Eastern Conference next year. Perhaps the scrutinized rookie pick, Alex Sarr, will help.

“I think you look at the NBA, you know, like, who’s really a contender? You don’t really know a lot. The NBA, especially the last couple of years, it’s a new champion every year. And it’s not what you expect at the beginning of the year. So, you know, maybe one day we are one of those.”

He’s already an NBA champion and is only about to hit the prime of his career where his physical tools align with his mental development of the game. He thinks he could have had two rings by now if Anthony Davis didn’t get injured against Phoenix in 2021. Or perhaps if the Lakers’ management stuck with the group that won them a ring rather than make a trade which he was part of to land Russell Westbrook.

“I think it’s tough because they kind of gave up on me,” he admitted. “They gave up on that team a little too early. Rob [Pelinka] panicked a little bit. But you know in the NBA, things happen fast, you never know what’s going to happen next. It’s always like a revolving door, so we had a tough stretch, so it happens.”

And it’s fair to ask this: would Kuzma have the opportunity to showcase more of his all-around game without touches and opportunities in the nation’s capital?

His passion for fashion is well-known. He’s attended festivals in Europe. He works with international brands. His game-day fits stir conversations online. He’s bold, unpredictable, and confident – qualities that make clothing a complex yet electrifying topic in pop culture.

“You know, I just go off from how I feel, you know, and also, like, I’m more about putting in, putting out looks, you know?” he shared insight into his process.

“Like, for instance,” he said, waving his hand from his top down to his shoes, “what I have on now is, like, you know, it all flows, it’s all together. It all kind of makes sense. But sometimes you can get a little wacky and you want to feel good and wear other things. So, a lot of it just depends on, like, my mood and how I’m feeling that day on what I want to wear.”

His top three favorite fits of all time?

Pink Sweater.

Big Puffy Jacket.

Anything leather.

His dedication to improving his craft is indicative of why he’s having a successful pro career. It doesn’t matter the time of the day, a workout must be slotted in, whether that’s after he just scrimmaged with kids in unforgiving humid Manila weather or before a 17-hour flight. His shooting routine is detailed. A certain amount of takes and makes for different spots on the court. Long-ball shots are honed in challenging ways: off-the-catch, running down at full speed, a pump before release, turnarounds, after one dribble, after two, and now add a crossover there. Whenever he’s missed a few shots consecutively, he goes to the foul line to regain his rhythm. Or perhaps it’s punishment for missing, in order to improve on consistency? It’s hard to tell. After all, guys like Kyle Kuzma aren’t in the 1% of the 1% in the world at playing this mesmerizing game for nothing. There are layers to unpack before reaching greatness.

But what can greatness provide if we don’t remain grounded in the possibilities of the world around us?

How is greatness truly great if we don’t remember that we are a small part of a much larger universe we can’t ever fully comprehend?

The beauty of staying grounded is that it opens our eyes to possibilities we didn’t know were possible. That could have depth, like meeting strangers in a foreign land to shift your outlook in life, or something simple and innocent, such as finding a delicious crunch chocolate snack to take back home.

“The people,” Kuz said immediately when asked about the best part of his Manila trip on his final night. All eyes in the room were on him, yet he felt at ease.

At home.

“I’ve never really had a life experience like this.”

The first Tagalog word he learned was “Limahan.”

He discovered a new expression just moments before he bid goodbye, one he shared to everyone in the room:

“Mahal kita!”

In Kyle Kuzma’s own greatness, he’s remembered to have an open perspective for all the opportunities that have come knocking on his door. Yes, it allows him to have experiences that very few in the world can. It also reminds us of something exceptional: greatness doesn’t have to come at the price of life’s simplest pleasures.

“I’ve got to come back down to the beach,” Kyle Kuzma said.