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Los Angeles Lakers: D’Angelo Russell Shines In Lakers’ 1st Win

By Carter Johnson

October 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell (1) moves the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
October 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell (1) moves the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Los Angeles Lakers fans have been waiting to see signs of life from the No. 2 overall pick in this summer’s draft. Fans were shocked when the team decided to take a hybrid guard in D’Angelo Russell over a player who many thought was a sure thing in Duke center Jahlil Okafor.

While Okafor has been performing up to par with expectations so far in Philadelphia (averaging 19.8 points and 8.4 boards per game), Russell, despite being quite adept as a facilitator and playmaker, has been slow out of the gate as a scorer, failing to display the deadly shooting stroke and tenacious scoring ability that made him such an attractive prospect this June.

Up until Friday night, Russell was relatively quiet in the scoring column, only averaging 8.5 points per game.

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However, that all changed Friday night.

Russell led the charge offensively for a Lakers team that was hungry for its first win of the 2015-16 season, scoring 16 points while going 6-of-9 from the field, including two 3-pointers, in the team’s victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

While the rookie point guard played a great all-around game adding four boards and three steals to his stat line, fans were most pleased to see the tenacious scoring ability he displayed in his lone impressive season at Ohio State, most notably on this play where he yanked Jarrett Jack‘s ankles out from under him with a mean crossover before sinking a smooth jumper:

This play perfectly displays something Russell had not shown until Friday night — aggressiveness on the offensive end. It’s easy to see how a rookie could feel a bit intimidated to look for his shot in a backcourt that includes one of the greatest scorers of all time, a first-team All Rookie selection and the reigning Sixth Man of the Year.

However, when a team decides to make you the No. 2 overall pick, you can’t afford to be a passive player, especially when the guy they passed on to pick you is a monster of a scorer who does this to opponents on a regular basis:

The Lakers drafted Russell because they believed — and continue to believe — that he could provide star power at a position that is the most essential in today’s NBA.

The good news is that Russell has shown that he has the ability to score and score efficiently on both the collegiate and professional levels; he just has to be more aggressive in looking for his shot. He can’t allow the loaded backcourt that he plays in or the organization he plays for be factors that stifle him mentally.

As the No. 2 overall pick, Russell is a player that is expected to lead this organization in the future and to be a pillar for their success in the years to come. In order to do that, he has to maximize the fullness of his talents, which includes contributing heavily as a scorer.

The Lakers drafted Russell over a proven player in Okafor because they believed — and continue to believe — that he could provide star power at a position that is undoubtedly the most pivotal and essential in today’s NBA, especially in the Western Conference.

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With performances like the one he put on Friday night, fans can be encouraged that Russell is more than capable of living up to such lofty expectations.

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