Los Angeles Lakers: Julius Randle Won’t Let Kobe Bryant Down
2014 marked the first time since 2009 that the Los Angeles Lakers utilized a first-round draft pick. Barring an unforeseen trade, it’ll be the first time since 2007 that the first-round selection made it to the regular season with Los Angeles.
It’d be the first time since L.A. selected Jordan Farmar at No. 26 overall in 2006 that a player drafted in the first round played a full season with the Lakers.
Perhaps most significantly, Julius Randle was the first player the Lakers selected in the Top 10 since Andrew Bynum in 2005.
Randle enters somewhat unchartered territory—seven years is a long time between first-round draft picks, let alone the eight between those who actually stayed on the roster for more than Javaris Crittenton‘s 22 games.
Thus, there’s an incomparable pressure that Randle is set to withstand. Not only is he one of the many players with something to prove on a makeshift roster, but he’s the one of the few with a combination Los Angeles isn’t accustomed to possessing: youth and upside.
According to Mark Medina of The Los Angeles Daily News, franchise player Kobe Bryant has one message for Randle: don’t mess this up.
"“It means he can’t [bleep] it up.” Bryant explained in more vulgar terms following the Lakers’ 98-91 preseason victory over the Utah Jazz on Sunday at Staples Center.“If you [bleep] this up, you’re a really big idiot,” Bryant said. “ESPN are idiots, but you’re really a big idiot if you manage to [bleep] this up.”"
Randle isn’t intimidated; he actually agrees with Bryant.
"“It’s for me to mess it up,” Randle said with a laugh as he recalled Bryant’s message. “Kobe said you can’t mess it up unless you want to. I intentionally have to mess things up.”“Instead of being frustrated and down when my name is called, I’m excited and ready to go,” Randle said. “I’m ready to bring that energy and bring good vibes. My head is mentally in a good place.”"
For any skeptics out there, pause your doubt; Randle will live up to the hype.
Bryant is a notoriously brutal critic, but that doesn’t seem to bother Randle. Much as it fueled the elevation of Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, the tough love approach seems to be motivating the former Kentucky Wildcats star
The end result will be Randle emerging as he’s projected to be: a legitimate franchise building block.
Nightly Double-Double
Times have changed. Michael Jordan isn’t walking through the door to average 28.2 points as a rookie, Magic Johnson isn’t here to win Finals MVP in his first season and neither Wilt Chamberlain nor Wes Unsled will win MVP fresh out of the draft.
Rookies in today’s NBA tend to struggle early on, show flashes of brilliance and eventually put it all together. It’s why just two rookies have averaged at least 20.0 points per game since 2008-09: Tyreke Evans and Blake Griffin.
Thus, the following statement applies to once the rust wears off: Julius Randle is a walking double-double.
Before addressing his skill set, the one thing that most commonly translates from the college game to the NBA is rebounding. That’s where Randle’s at his best, both offensively and defensively.
He’s one of the rare players who both overpowers and out-positions his man on the glass. That combination is one of many reasons he was a lock to go in the Top 10.
Rebounding alone will earn him additional playing time and the respect of his teammates in a league where hard-nosed interior players are, yet again, increasing in value.
Randle’s ability to crash the offensive glass will inevitably warrant him scoring opportunities. Whether via putbacks or trips to the foul line, Randle has the No. 1 trait for a big man to create his own offense: tenacity in the paint.
The 19-year-old also has one of the most powerful frames in the 2014 NBA draft class. At 6’9″ and roughly 240 pounds, he’s a bruising player who, upon filling out, could be one of the most physically imposing power forwards in the league.
This all adds up to doing what Randle did better than anyone in college basketball: posting a nightly double-double.
Lamar Odom Skills
The most intriguing aspect about Julius Randle is that he complements a powerful body and approach with a dynamic skill set. He can handle the ball, run in transition, shoot with relative accuracy, post his man up and finish in traffic.
Randle also has one of the best motors of any first-year player.
Per Medina’s previously alluded to report, this has drawn comparisons to a Lakers great: Lamar Odom.
"For all the comparisons Randle has drawn to Memphis’ bruising power forward Zach Randolph, Lakers forward Ed Davis noticed that Randle has mirrored more of the modern version of Lamar Odom. Just as the former Lakers forward interchanged roles as a post player, facilitator and ball handler, Randle has provided the same job description.“It’s all about putting pressure on the defense when you can outrun the bigs and have the ball too,” Randle said. “That’s what Coach wants me to do every time I get the rebound. I’m pushing the ball and making plays. I’ve been doing it my whole life so I’m comfortable with it.”"
That’s bad news for opposing defenses.
There’s no question that Randle needs to tighten his handle, play more in control and polish the skills that he possesses. There’s also no question that he has the skills in place to polish.
As a coach and player developer, it’s a whole lot easier to help someone improve upon what already exists than teach an old dog new tricks. And yes, even at 19, roughly 10 years of playing the same style of basketball makes a rookie an old dog.
It’s why so few succeed.
Randle is a more explosive Odom, but he also has less length going for him. Those two traits could end up countering each other out, but regardless of what transpires in that regard, he can play a role similar to Odom’s.
Odom helped the Lakers win two NBA championships and make three consecutive Finals appearances. He also won Sixth Man of the Year in 2011.
To suggest that Randle’s arrival guarantees a new era of championship success would be premature in its nature. Nevertheless, he’s the type of building block that Los Angeles has been unwilling to commit to in previous seasons.
Just as there’s always been in Los Angeles, Randle has the potential to be the next dominant low-post player.
Adding Randle to the mix makes an instant impact with a strong, but not spectacular interior tandem of Carlos Boozer and Jordan Hill. It also holds value with Steve Nash‘s health up in the air and point guard depth both promising and unclear.
In his first year in the NBA, Randle will showcase all of his skills and take steps towards becoming the Lakers’ ultimate X-Factor.
How High Is Randle’s Ceiling?
The most difficult question to answer about a sports prospect is, “How good can they become?” The skills are fine and the collegiate dominance is wonderful, but that doesn’t paint a full picture of what the player will be in future years.
In the case of one Julius Randle, the sky is the limit.
Randle has been exposing opposing defenses his entire life. It hasn’t been via one trait over the other.
He’s led the fast break as a ball-handler. He’s posted up elite interior defenders, shown a variety of post moves and finished both under the rim and with turnaround shots to keep the opposition honest.
Albeit inconsistently, Randle has also proven that he can face up and space the floor with a jump shot. Paired with crashing the offensive glass when the rest of his team seemed half-asleep, Randle has done it all.
With a relentless approach and a well-rounded skill set, Randle’s upside is exactly as Kobe Bryant said it is: he can be as good as he wants to be.
There are weaknesses worth noting, specifically a 7’0″ wingspan that’s good enough to put him at the 4, but not necessarily incredible. Fortunately for Randle, scouting combine measurements can’t account for what actually happens during a game.
On the floor, Randle’s relentless attack and powerful build give him a combination that often succeeds. Paired with Bryant’s mentorship, something that will never let him take a play off, Randle will build upon an already strong feel for the game.
If he’s able to polish the well-rounded skills that are already in place, he could be one of the most dynamic offensive players in the NBA. Should he also fill out as many expect his body to, he’ll pair those skills with an uncanny level of power.
This all adds up to one thing: Randle won’t let Bryant down. In a few seasons, he’ll be an All-Star.