Coming full circle. Kobe finds D’Angelo Russell and throws a consoling arm around him after the rookie’s overtime heroics fell just short, reenacting the scene between Shaq and Kobe during Bryant’s rookie season.
D'Angelo Russell
Ever since the Lakers won the #2 draft pick, I've been researching non-stop and debating back-and-forth between Jahlil Okafor and D'Angelo Russell.
Both are going to be brilliant on offense, and both will equally have to improve their defense. But after watching a few interviews, I realized Russell has something that Okafor and Towns don't really have — that cockiness and competitive fire that says, "I am the best damn player in this room and I will fucking prove it to you all."
That's the stuff that separates the really good players from the great players.
MJ has it. Kobe has it. LeBron has it. I think D'Angelo has it too.
So this morning, I called it on Twitter. Low and behold, I was right.
Welcome to Los Angeles, D'Angelo!!