Hoops Habit
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NBA: 5 Most Exciting Non-Superstars To Watch

By Colby Giacubeno

Mar 4, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) reacts during the first half of a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) reacts during the first half of a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /
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March 4, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) dunks to score a basket against Atlanta Hawks during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
March 4, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) dunks to score a basket against Atlanta Hawks during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Julius Randle, Los Angeles Lakers

After an expected one-year stop at the University of Kentucky, Julius Randle followed the path of pretty much every five-star recruit that plays for John Calipari and declared for the NBA Draft.

Averaging a double-double of 15 points and 10.4 rebounds per game while leading the Wildcats to the national championship game was enough to assume that he would have a successful professional career.

The Los Angeles Lakers selected  him with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, but his first season in the league would end just 14 minutes into the first regular season game after breaking his right tibia. Question marks surfaced about how he would bounce back after the injury. He did just that, and with fury.

The fascinating thing about Randle’s game is the grace he has when he is going coast to coast after grabbing a rebound above the rim. There are many examples of this, but here is one from the 2014-15 preseason that showed promise for what was to come:

The grace ends when Randle rises up to the rim and throws down a dunk as if he were angry at the rim. He is now one of the cornerstones for the Lakers rebuilding process along with Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell.

As he wraps up his first full season in the NBA, Randle has posted career-highs of 23 points twice, pulled down 20 rebounds against the Clippers, and became the first Laker rookie since Magic Johnson to record a triple-double when they faced the Nuggets.

Although the Lakers have been horrid to watch this season with a 16-64 record, Randle is a main attraction for fans to tune in for the simple fact that there aren’t too many players with his size to do what he does on the floor.

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