Exclusive | NBA star Kyle Kuzma on fashion, Art Basel and dating model Winnie Harlow

On and off the court, Kyle Kuzma is a man in motion.He’s constantly evolving, whether it’s his approach to fashion, his innovative philanthropic moves or his gameplay.

Just try to pin him down; he’s darting away before you can blink.The Washington Wizards forward joins Alexa on Zoom after a long afternoon practice — and a little postpractice ink.“I was finishing a tattoo,” the six-foot-nine-inch athlete says by way of apology for his minor lateness.

His newest body art joins an extensive canvas of what Kuzma estimates to be over 80 tattoos, from the cherub on his neck to the word “Flint” on his wrist — an homage to his beloved and besieged Michigan hometown — to the “Space Jam” Looney Tunes characters on his thigh.The new art is behind his leg, he shares; the man has to be running out of space at this point.

“It’s a Great Depression quote from the ’30s,” he says.“It says ‘Make it do, or do without.’” For such a kinetic guy, I suggest, the process of getting inked must be a welcome opportunity to take a breath, even if it comes with a bit of a pinch.

“Yeah, for sure, 100%,” he agrees in his soft-spoken baritone.“Just, like, calm out, work on your mental toughness.”He’s Zooming from preseason training in Montreal, his lanky frame and blond hair swathed in a chocolate-brown, very soft-looking hoodie.

Kuzma’s got an eye for a good fabric: Throughout his seven years in the NBA, he’s found fame for his pregame looks and his Fashion Week appearances, reliably accompanied by his supermodel girlfriend Winnie Harlow. Kuzma grew up in Flint and played basketball at the University of Utah before being drafted to the NBA in 2017.He played with the Lakers from 2017 to 2021, including their 2020 championship year, before being traded to the Wizards, where this year he re-signed to a four-year, $102 million contract.

He was honored on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Sports list this year, and named an ambassador for David Yurman.W...