Ranking The Los Angeles Lakers’ 5 Best Players After One Month

2. Julius Randle

It’s been a bit shocking to see the leap Julius Randle has taken this year. After missing his entire rookie season and giving us glimpses of greatness as a sophomore, it’s great to see the Kentucky product is finally living up to his billing as the No. 7 overall pick.

Realistically, he’s outshined every one of the Lakers’ other young rising stars this season. Russell hasn’t been nearly as efficient or reliable, and Brandon Ingram is still a huge work in progress. Clarkson has been his dependable self, but he still hasn’t reached that true star status. Randle, on the other hand, has been everything Luke Walton hoped for and more.

If Walton was looking for a Draymond Green replacement, he found it.

Randle has excelled as the Lakers’ playmaker in the paint. He’s routinely putting up double-doubles, and has even managed one triple-double through 15 appearances. While his averages of 13.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game aren’t MVP-worthy, the tenacity, leadership and instincts he’s shown have proved he’s grown a lot since last season.

We all knew the sky was the ceiling for Randle. We’re finally starting to see him unlock some of that potential, and it’s giving the Lakers a lot to look forward to this season and beyond.