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Los Angeles Lakers: Jordan Clarkson, D’Angelo Russell Growing As A Duo

By Chris Walton

Jul 11, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell (1) congratulates teammates on the floor near the end of an NBA Summer League game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Thomas & Mack Center. The Lakers won 68-60. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 11, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell (1) congratulates teammates on the floor near the end of an NBA Summer League game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Thomas & Mack Center. The Lakers won 68-60. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA tandems have been — and likely will always be — one of the recipes to franchise success. We’ve seen this type of dominance by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.

Multiple titles and a lifetime of broadcast calls are the result of these exciting duos. With the Los Angeles Lakers making the list twice, the franchise knows a thing or two about building the camaraderie of a pairing.

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Both D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson have shown some serious skill in the basketball world. Russell is a former NCAA All-American, while Clarkson just finished an NBA All-Rookie season.

Despite a somewhat underwhelming Summer League, the two are sure to provide the NBA with loads of trouble as they mature. The summertime allowed both players to start chemistry on and off the floor, which will be much needed if they’re the Lakers’ starting backcourt.

With strong chances as starters, the Lakers must prepare to go through the ups and downs of having one of the league’s younger backcourts. From the sights and sounds at training camp, veterans are starting to sense that the two are ready for the ride. Newly signed guard Lou Williams chimed in on their play after two days of practice:

Aside from their on-court production, the observations made by Williams are what will cement the franchise’s trust in Clarkson and Russell. It’s almost blasphemous to say that the two will become Hall of Fame prospects at this point, but the Lakers will need both to play at a high level to inch closer to 17 championships.

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In all honesty, they don’t have to play like the legends in whose footsteps they follow. With what looks like a strong core forming in Los Angeles, Clarkson and Russell just have to guide the group.

The ideal scenario is for the two players to duplicate the success of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, or maybe even John Wall and Bradley Beal. Those pairings of players feature All-Stars, playoff runs and even an NBA championship. Even with the success of the aforementioned backcourts, the maturation takes time.

If there’s “Showtime” still lingering in Los Angeles, then hopefully these two talented fellows will channel the excitement of the past.

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