Kyle Kuzma: Ethnicity, Salary, Relationships & Net Worth

Kyle Kuzma is a biracial NBA forward currently playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, with a career defined by a signature $90 million contract, a high-profile relationship with model Winnie Harlow, and persistent public curiosity about his ethnic background. This article draws on verified biographical sources, contract salary databases, and sports news reporting to separate fact from speculation around Kuzma’s ethnicity, earnings, and personal life.

Last checked: 2026-06-14

Full Name: Kyle Alexander Kuzma · Born: July 24, 1995 (age 30) · Team: Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) · College: Utah · Draft: 2017, Round 1, Pick 27

What ethnicity is Kyle Kuzma?

Kyle Kuzma identifies as biracial. In a 2019 essay for The Players’ Tribune, he wrote: “I’m mixed (my mom is white and my dad is black), and as far as my identity growing up, it was really in the eye of the beholder.” His mother, Karri Kuzma, is white — some reporting has suggested possible Ukrainian or broader Slavic ancestry linked to the Kuzma surname, though this has not been confirmed through genealogical records. His father is Black.

Kuzma was born and raised in Flint, Michigan, and attended the University of Utah before entering the NBA. His self-identification, paired with his parents’ backgrounds, establishes his ethnicity as Black and white, not — as internet speculation sometimes claims — half-Filipino.

Why the Filipino rumor persists

Kuzma enjoys a massive following in the Philippines, where local media regularly celebrate his connection to the country’s basketball culture. In an Esquire Philippines interview, Kuzma discussed his familiarity with Filipino basketball fans from his Los Angeles Lakers years. Some fans also point to his surname, which can sound Filipino to non-Slavic ears. But the surname Kuzma is actually of Slavic origin, not Philippine. The bottom line: Kuzma’s Philippine ties are cultural, not ancestral — he is not half-Filipino by any credible account.

Did Kyle Kuzma date a Kardashian?

Kuzma was briefly linked to Kendall Jenner in 2020, during a period when the model was seen at Lakers games and the two were photographed together. The connection was never confirmed by either party beyond tabloid reports, and the rumored relationship fizzled out within a few months. Jenner later moved on to NBA player Devin Booker, further reinforcing the brief, informal nature of the Kuzma-Jenner speculation.

Separately, some online references to “autosexual” claims have been misattributed to Kuzma; he is not associated with that term in any verified interview or social media post. The implication: The Kardashian-Kuzma link is a minor footnote in his biography — not a defining relationship.

Are Kyle Kuzma and Winnie Harlow married?

As of 2025, Kuzma and model Winnie Harlow (born Chantelle Whitney Brown-Young) are not married. The couple has been publicly dating since 2020, appearing together on red carpets and in social media posts, but engagement or wedding announcements have not surfaced from credible sources.

Winnie Harlow is a Canadian fashion model who has become a prominent public spokesperson on vitiligo, a skin condition she has lived with since childhood. Her visibility — including campaigns for major fashion houses — has made the relationship a recurring topic in lifestyle and sports media.

Winnie Harlow is a Canadian fashion model and public spokesperson on vitiligo, and her visibility has helped make Kuzma’s relationship life a frequent topic in lifestyle and sports media.

— EssentiallySports

What is Winnie Harlow’s diagnosis?

Harlow has vitiligo, a chronic autoimmune condition that causes loss of skin pigmentation in patches. She has been open about the condition since entering the modeling industry and has used her platform to advocate for greater representation. She does not have any other widely reported medical diagnosis.

What is Kyle Kuzma’s salary and net worth?

Kuzma’s current contract is a four-year, $90 million fully guaranteed deal he signed with the Washington Wizards ahead of the 2023–24 season — an average annual salary of $22.5 million. The contract is front-loaded, paying approximately $24.4 million in the first year, then roughly $22 million and $20 million in subsequent seasons. After a 2025 trade, the Milwaukee Bucks assumed the remaining years.

Independent cap-tracking from ESPN lists Kuzma’s 2025–26 salary in the low $21 million range, consistent with the declining structure. A detailed breakdown from SalarySwish projects his 2025–26 earnings at $21.5–$21.8 million and his 2026–27 salary at roughly $19.4 million, plus performance incentives. Unrestricted free agency is expected after the 2026–27 season.

Kuzma has also invested “tens of millions of dollars” into private companies, including SpaceX, Anduril, and Kalshi, as reported by Andscape. His net worth — while not publicly verified by a single authoritative source — is generally estimated by sports finance outlets to be in the range of $20 million to $30 million, excluding future contract earnings and endorsement income.

Who is Kyle Kuzma’s father?

Kuzma’s father is not widely publicized. The player has spoken primarily about being raised by his mother, Karri Kuzma, and has not named his father in any significant media profile. This lack of public information has led to the recurring online question, but no credible source has identified Kuzma’s father by name or background.

Karri Kuzma, his mother, has been profiled as a white woman of likely European ancestry. She raised Kyle in Flint, Michigan, and remains a close figure — Kuzma has said she plans to retire on his birthday, July 24, following his financial success.

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