D'Angelo Russell (Photo : Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport)
The Los Angeles Lakers has reduced this season as a farewell tour for Kobe Bryant but they are also testing out their rookies.
One of them has recently shown flashes of real All-Star potential which will make the front office look good as they drafted him over Jahlil Okafor and Kristaps Porzingis.
D'Angelo Russell was projected to be the superstar point guard of the future for the Lakers that's why they chose him over the elite big men prospects. They still chose him even when Jordan Clarkson emerged to be a quality player from the second round of the previous draft even if they play the same position.
ESPN Insider explored Russell and his ceiling. Will he become a legitimate superstar in the league?
"Russell has been on fire since the All-Star break, averaging 19.9 points and 4.7 assists and shooting a scintillating 54 percent from 3-point range. On Tuesday, he erupted for 39 points and eight 3-pointers against the Nets," noted ESPN's Chad Ford.
Kevin Pelton also noted what was Russell's biggest strength. "The ability to create shots. A 23.6 percent usage rate is on the high side for a rookie point guard. He's also a good defensive rebounder for a point guard."
He is better than the other top point guard of his class, Emmanuel Mudiay, as Chad Ford confirms: "I don't think anyone's even close this season. I actually personally preferred Emmanuel Mudiay to Russell on draft night, but clearly Russell is having the better rookie year."
Russell was even hailed as possibly the best point guard prospect since Kyrie Irving, and that's saying a lot. Early in the season he was considered overrated, even a bust, but eventually it did unravel that it was more because he was not given enough opportunities.
The good news is that Lakers coach Byron Scott has committed to starting Russell for the rest of the season. Lake Show Life took wind of this evaluation and they believe the future is bright for the team.
"Russell obviously has a ways to go, especially defensively, but at this point the future looks bright for the Purple and Gold," LSL stated.
D'Angelo Russell's final evaluation has him marked as an All-Star but not "superstar." He has to deliver a two-way game to get into the conversation. Guys like Kyrie Irving and John Wall are All-Stars and Russell can get on that tier. But superstar guards, like Kobe Bryant and Russell Westbrook is another matter.
