How Lakers’ new signing William Kyle III has 2 things in common with Shaq originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Los Angeles Lakers have a legendary history of big guys, from Wilt Chamberlain to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Shaquille O’Neal.
No, William Kyle III is unlikely to turn into one of them. But he does have a couple things in common with some of the Lakers’ best bigs.
First — Kyle is a 6-foot-9 center from Syracuse who signed with the Lakers on an Exhibit 10 contract after the 2026 NBA Draft concluded. That deal incentivizes him to stay with the Lakers’ G League team if he doesn’t make the NBA roster.
Former Syracuse center William Kyle III is signing with the Lakers on an Exhibit 10 deal, sources told ESPN. The 6-9, 230-pound big man averaged 8.4 points on 66.1% with 7.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game in his senior season with the Orange
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 25, 2026
The good about Kyle is right there in that post on X from Dave McMenamin — he protects the rim, and finishes at the rim.
For Syracuse, Kyle got to the point where opponents would go elsewhere rather than all the way to the basket. Clearly, he won’t have quite that impact at the NBA level, but he moves his feet well, jumps impressively and has great timing and instincts.
If Kyle makes it, it’ll be because he blocks shots, attacks the glass and dunks.
Now, the one major problem: foul shooting.
Shaq knows a thing or two about missing free throws. Kyle shot 49% in his final season at Syracuse, and his foul shot looked pretty much totally broken.
Maybe there’s work that can be done on it, but it’s certainly not a given that Kyle ever improves much at the line. He’ll have to be good enough elsewhere that it isn’t a problem.
Kyle’s odds are long. But he has a skillset that could work out, if he reaches his peak potential.
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