Report: Lakers Players Feuded Throughout The Season

It was a tumultuous season for the Los Angeles Lakers, consisting of COVID protocols, injuries to their star tandem of Lebron James and Anthony Davis, and an unprecedented level of fatigue having had the shortest offseason in sports history. However, recent reports reveal that the 2020 champions were fraught with internal turmoil as well, with Dennis Schroder and Kyle Kuzma feuding throughout the season, per ESPN's Jordan Schultz.

While it's unclear why Kuzma and Schroder clashed throughout the season, Schultz asserts that the tension was exacerbated during the Lakers' first-round series loss to the Suns.

League sources say Dennis Schroder and Kyle Kuzma feuded throughout the season, with things going further south throughout the #Lakers’ first-round series loss to Phoenix. Interesting note to consider heading into the draft and free agency.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) July 23, 2021

Both Kuzma and Schroder have been the subject of multiple trade rumors since Los Angeles' game 6 loss to Phoenix. Kuzma, 25, recently removed the Los Angeles Lakers from his Instagram bio, prompting ESPN's Marc J. Spears to "think that he's ready for a new start with a bigger opportunity."

Schroder, 27, is a free agent and is reportedly seeking north of $100M. Potential suitors include the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks.

"[Kyle Kuzma] has been in this LA bubble, he's behind LeBron, I think he's ready for a new start with a bigger opportunity"

—@MarcJSpears on Kuzma's future with the Lakers after he removed "Los Angeles Lakers" and replaced it with "NBA Champion" in his IG bio#TheJump pic.twitter.com/sX09Le3KWl
— The Jump on ESPN (@NBATheJump) June 20, 2021