"With the second pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers select D'Angelo Russell from Ohio State University."
By far the most talented guard in this year's NBA Draft is heading to Southern California to suit up in purple and gold for the Lakers. Coming out of Montverde Academy, D'Angelo Russell was a five-star recruit (according to Rivals.com) and a McDonalds All-American, but despite those accomplishments he was not as highly valued as Jahlil Okafor, Emmanuel Mudiay, and Stanley Johnson. What a difference a year can make since Russell has just been selected ahead of all three.
The nineteen year old from Louisville, Kentucky, is a terrific scorer that is extermely unselfish, unlike the majority of scorers in basketball. Russell's passing skills are at their best when penetrating defensive gaps and driving in pick and rolls. The shooting guard also had one of the best shooting strokes in college basketball this past season shown in his accuracy from beyond the arc (41.1%).
2015-2016 Projected Starting Lineup
PG-Jordan Clarkson
***2014-2015 All-Rookie First Team
---11.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG, & 3.5 APG.
SG-Kobe Bryant
---22.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.6 APG, & 1.3 SPG.
SF-Nick Young
---13.4 PPG & 2.3 RPG.
PF-Julius Randle
---15.0 PPG & 10.4 RPG. (At University of Kentucky)
C-Jordan Hill
---12.0 PPG & 7.9 RPG.
6th-D'Angelo Russell
---19.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.0 APG, & 1.6 SPG. (At Ohio State University)
A little over a month ago on May 22, Kobe Bryant indicated to Los Angeles Lakers' General Manager Mitch Kupchak that the 2015-2016 season would be his last with the team. So with that being said, one has to think that Kobe Bryant and the Lakers will do anything to get back into the 2016 NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2013 and compete for a championship. Tonight was a big step in that direction for next year as well as the years after. By selecting Russell, Los Angeles adds a tremendous player to their already good backcourt that includes Nick Young, Jordan Clarkson, and future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant. Also, one must remember that Russell plays the same position as Kobe Bryant so this upcoming season he will learn from one of the best while taking over the spot when Bryant departs. By picking D'Angelo Russell, the Lakers are enjoying the best of both worlds.
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