Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma ruled out for NBA season opener vs Clippers

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 05: Anthony Davis (left) #3 sits next to LeBron James #23 and Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers during their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 05, 2019 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFP

The Los Angeles Lakers say Kyle Kuzma won’t play when they open the NBA season against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday as he continues to recover from a stress reaction in his left foot.

Kuzma, who averaged 18.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game last season for the Lakers, was hurt while he was with the United States team in the run-up to the World Championships in China.

He was cleared for non-contact practices after the Lakers returned from playing two NBA pre-season games in China last week.

Lakers coach Frank Vogel said he wants to see Kuzma do more work before he takes the court in games to be sure he has no setbacks. A stress reaction is a painful condition that is a pre-cursor to a stress fracture.

“We’re going to try to increase his workload and activities this week and we’ll see where we’re at,” said Vogel, who described the 24-year-old third-year forward as “probably our third-best player” behind superstar LeBron James and center Anthony Davis.