After Monday’s practice for the upcoming summer-league games in Las Vegas, the Los Angeles Lakers' No. 2 draft pick was asked about the kind of leadership role he can take at such a young age.
“That’s something you have to have as a point guard,” Russell told Lakers.com. “I feel I can walk into a room with top players and still try to lead. It’s just a way of nature for me.”
Much is expected of this future floor general, a one-and-done point guard from Ohio State who will spearhead the next generation of Lakers basketball. But Russell’s physics-defying passing and playmaking skills will give him an edge, as demonstrated through the Sport Science video below:
Russell is just one member of the team’s current youth movement, but he’s certainly the focal point at the moment. It's fitting, since he's the highest Lakers draft selection since James Worthy was taken as the top overall pick in 1982.
Other young roster scions include last year’s No. 7 pick Julius Randle, who sat out all but 14 minutes of his rookie season with a broken leg, and sleeper hit Jordan Clarkson, who rose from a humble No. 46 slot to the NBA All-Rookie first team. You can also toss in Tarik Black and Jabari Brown as undrafted rookies who turned out to be promising prospects during an otherwise bleak season.
There are also this year’s Nos. 27 and 34 picks, Larry Nance Jr. and Anthony Brown. And if they manage to make it to next season without getting traded, Ryan Kelly and Robert Sacre have two and three years under their belts, respectively.
That’s nine players at an average age of 22, most of whom have one or fewer seasons of NBA experience under their belt.
