Lakers Players Spotlight: D’Angelo Russell
- Updated: October 7, 2015
This summer has been constructive for the Lakers. Beginning with the 2015 draft, the Lakers selected a 19-year old guard, D’Angelo Russell. The front office tricked a lot of the critics and fans by going with Russell instead of Jahlil Okafor. With the NBA becoming a league for guards, he brings playmaking, youth, and energy to the game. He’ll be able to grow under Kobe Bryant on and off of the court.
D’Angelo was a five-star recruit out of Montverde Academy. He started every game for the Ohio State Buckeyes averaging 19.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 5 apg. As the season grew, Russell blossomed with the situation, while taking Ohio State to the Round of 32. He was the first freshman at Ohio State to record a triple-double as a true-freshman. D’Angelo was a First-team All-American and named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. On June 25, 2015, D’Angelo was selected by the Lakers. During the 2015 Summer League, he averaged 11.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.2 apg, and 5.2 turnovers. The summer league games helped him get acclimated to NBA speed.
D’Angelo knows that he’s the cornerstone of this franchise, with the Lakers drafting a point guard with the top 3 pick for the first time since drafting Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Coming to Tinsel town can be distracting for anyone foreign to the bright lights, circus with the media, and endorsements. Russell has already signed a deal with Nike and Birchbox.
With the emergence from Jordan Clarkson last year, Mitch Kupchak and others believed Russell would fit best with Clarkson in the backcourt. Russell is a true point guard, which Byron Scott envisions to get back to the “Showtime” days. With the Lakers drafting Russell into the Laker family at an early age this will help him grow and learn a system of the coaching staff. Bryant will be able to guide Russell through this vigorous season, especially on road trips and back-to-back games. The Lakers bringing in more veterans will be a good sight for D’Angelo, as he’ll have to prepare himself against the top guards in the NBA each and every night.
Number 2 pick, D’Angelo Russell and the Lakers begin their season opener on October 28th at the Staples Center against the number 1 pick, Karl Anthony-Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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