KYLE Kuzma came unannounced, with no public itinerary, and for good reason—his second visit to the Philippines felt more personal this time around.
The Milwaukee Bucks' two-way star came to the country for the first time a year ago, and now, he’s back for a week-long stay, dropping by small-town courts in Mandaluyong and getting honored with a full-court mural at the Tenement Compound in Santa Ana, Manila.
Beyond fan meet-ups, food hunts for Asian dishes, and other side trips, one moment stood out most: a simple encounter with a local that gave Kuzma a fresh perspective on life beyond basketball.
“Coming from America, we always hear us saying, ‘Ah, it’s terrible here, whatever.’ Earlier, a lady shared they just got running water. I come from Michigan, we had our own [water issues]… Here across the ocean and you got people that take pride that they just got running water into their houses,” he said during a quick meet-and-greet arranged by All-Star Magazine at Okada Manila on Wednesday.
He added: “It’s crazy. It’s a whole lot different perspective on life. Very grateful to have a moment with those people.”
The 30-year-old one-time NBA champion has long been outspoken about his political views and social stances. But while basketball was what brought him back to Manila, Kuzma admitted it was the culture that made him stay present in the moment.
“I felt the love last year, being around great cultures, cultures that inspire me. People here are so good, I feel like home,” he said.
READ: Kuzma likes the 4-point shot, feels NBA fans would 'probably like' it, too
And with Filipinos still dreaming of the day one of their own makes it to the NBA, Kuzma offered words of encouragement, drawing from his own journey.
As he put it, “Keep dreaming. I’ve been an underdog my whole life—I still am to this day. I think you have to embrace that. A person that dreams is always the one that works relentlessly, and that is rewarding.”
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