2016 NBA Rookie Ladder: Post All-Star Break Expectations

Feb 5, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) dribbles the ball against Chicago Bulls forward Bobby Portis (5) in the fourth quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets defeated the Bulls 115-110. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

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January 26, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) moves the ball against Dallas Mavericks guard Wesley Matthews (23) during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

6. D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers

There’s something to be said about coach Byron Scott‘s approach with giving Russell consistent minutes. And it’s simply this: Scott has no business being the one in charge of Russell’s development.

I get where Scott is coming from. Russell hasn’t been consistent and his talent has only been fully unleashed in small doses. However that’s not reason enough to bench him in fourth quarters and not give him the experience he needs to better learn the professional game.

He’s only 19 yet he’s been tasked with being a point guard for the Lakers. There’s a lot of pressure on him especially given his spot taken in the 2015 draft. What he’s doing is difficult yet he’s looked good in a lot of different areas at times, from scoring to passing to playing defense.

It’s going to take Russell some time to get used to life in the NBA just like the rest of his peers. But he’s done enough to warrant sufficient playing time.

I fully expect him to get more time on the court than he did in the season’s first half, and he may even become the team’s starting point guard again.

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