That isn't the case for former Kentucky star Julius Randle, whom the Los Angeles Lakers nabbed with the seventh overall pick—their highest selection in 32 years—in last month's draft.
Despite stumbling to the second-lowest winning percentage in franchise history this past season, the Lakers don't plan on being down long. They expect greatness, both from themselves and from their physical 19-year-old forward.
Luckily for the Lakers, Randle's bar is just as high as theirs:
Competitors cut from this cloth don't run from the spotlight, they embrace it. If the Dallas native couldn't handle the heat, he never would have jumped on the NBA assembly line John Calipari operates in Kentucky.
Flanked by blue-chip prospects left and right, Randle didn't have time to find his footing. He either had to perform or give way to the next McDonald's All-American that would.
When he kicked off his collegiate career with a 23-point, 15-rebound performance, it was clear he'd never have to worry about the latter. He started all 40 games for the national runner-up Wildcats, pacing the team in points (15.0) and rebounds (10.4).
He's equipped to contribute now, and the short-handed Lakers will welcome his production. Playing time will come his way early and often, which is a testament to his game, not an assessment of the Lakers' current structure.
"He's going to get minutes, not only because we need players but also because he's going to earn them," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said, via ESPN Los Angeles' Dave McMenamin. "That's what he did at Kentucky."
Randle plays with a high motor that combines with his 6'9", 250-pound frame to form a powerful force. He's relentless on the glass, crafty in the low ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
