LA Lakers Rookie D'Angelo Russell Is Turning Heads While Finishing Strong

Before he sprained his ankle in Friday night's game against the Denver Nuggets, D'Angelo Russell's rookie season had finally hit the fast track. The steady evolution within various areas of his game has been easy to see, and all progress is good progress considering where he was earlier in the year.

The first couple of months of Russell’s NBA career were, more or less, a soul-crushing slog. 

Seemingly every weakness jammed deep inside his college scouting report surfaced before all of the good stuff could: He settled for pull-up mid-range jump shots when more effective drives into the paint were available. He lacked lateral quickness on the defensive end, couldn’t finish around the basket and wasn’t hitting outside shots—particularly those off-the-dribble sparks that separate elite point guards from the very good.

It was a tad worrisome but thankfully not a death blow.

During his first 20 games, all starts, the then-19-year-old averaged 11.0 points (on 1.1 free-throw attempts), 4.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.2 turnovers in 27.7 minutes every game. He shot 41 percent from the floor and 31.7 percent behind the three-point line.

Game 21, Lakers head coach Byron Scott removed him from the starting lineup. 

During that opening stretch and after he came off the bench, Russell sat through numerous fourth quarters for one reason or another—little of the demotion was understandable, considering the Lakers’ sole objective this season should’ve been to play and develop young pieces like Russell, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr. and Anthony Brown as much as possible. 

But signs of growth shone through the inconsistent playing time. Russell’s outside shot started to fall, he steadily increased his aggressiveness and he began navigating the pick-and-roll like a seven-year veteran. 

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Shortly after the All-Star break, Russell rejoined L.A.’s starting lineup and hasn’t looked back since. From February 24 through March 10—highlighted by an all-hands-on-deck 39-point fireworks display against the Brooklyn Nets—he's averaged 23.3 points on 47.1 percent shooting. 

Some of the best teams in the league have felt this wrath, including the Cleveland Cavaliers. He scored 24 points on 19 shots in their second meeting of the season. LeBron James, who tallied the same number of points on one fewer field-goal attempt that night, didn’t go out of his way to praise the second overall pick, but he acknowledged signs of improvement.

“He’s been playing some good ball,” James said. “I mean, obviously as a rookie you have ups and downs, but they have a good player.”

Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving was a tad more enthusiastic about his fellow point guard's development.

“He’s been playing unbelievable. That confidence of going through the season, having that grind, going through the rookie wall and then having older guys challenge him—now he’s finding his spots, knowing where he can really, really be aggressive and find that in-between game, which is really important,” Irving said.

“I’m glad he’s finding that, especially as a young point guard in this league. He’s going to be going against a lot of us for years to come, and I’m glad that he’s finding his rhythm.”

All-Star-caliber players have noticed Russell's month-to-month growth, and he’s also caught the eye of a few veterans who know special when they see it.

“He is way better than the first time we played them, which is all the credit you can give somebody because it means the game has slowed down for him,” Denver Nuggets forward Mike Miller said. “If I’m a GM, I’m a coach, I’m excited because the people who don’t have success in this league, the game doesn’t slow down for them. And their work ethic ain’t great.”

In 16 starts since the All-Star break—including a 12-minute stint against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night when he left with a sprained ankle and only managed two points—Russell is averaging 16.5 points, 3.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game. His three-point percentage spiked to 41.5, and his usage rate jumped from 21.5 percent in his first 20 games to 26.7 during his last 16.

Russell’s expansion has been gradual, from devastating post-ups to timely off-ball cuts. He glides up the court with more confidence each night, unafraid of venturing into the trees or creatively generating opportunities for open teammates with his pinpoint delivery. 

“He seems like a pretty crafty guard; he has a nice pace about his game,” Phoenix Suns backup point guard Ronnie Price said. “And that’s something that you can’t teach. Trying to teach a young point guard pace, they either have it or they don’t. They can get better at it, but to have the type of pace and skill set with his pace that he has right now is pretty impressive.”

A few hours before L.A. pulled off one of the biggest regular-season upsets in NBA history, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr couldn’t have been more complimentary of Russell’s steady improvement.

“I loved him out of Ohio State coming out of college,” he said. “I think he’s going to be a really good player. He’s showing his potential now.”

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Russell logged 21 points, four steals, five assists and three rebounds in the 17-point victory over Kerr's Warriors. Only 12 days after his 20th birthday, he outscored Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.

New York Knicks head coach Kurt Rambis strolled through Staples Center the following Sunday and reflected on Russell’s growth next to his own first-year sensation, Kristaps Porzingis. 

“We all know [Russell] is going to be good, and as young players, it takes them a while to grow up,” Rambis said. “He’s not a finished product by any stretch of the imagination. He’s got a lot to learn, just like Kris has a lot to learn. He’s going to get there; it’s just a matter of time before he’s a really, really good basketball player in this league.

""He’s growing up well, being able to handle the basketball, his shots improving, his defense is improving, accepting responsibility is improving.”

Porzingis’ rookie year has essentially been the opposite of Russell’s. The Latvian giant was a putback-dunking stick of dynamite in November and December, but he eventually crashed into the rookie wall and has struggled to maintain any semblance of efficiency over the past few weeks.

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Russell’s star power is undeniable. As Irving said, he’s already capable of getting wherever he wants and rising up for an efficient look. He can post up smaller guards on one play, then deliver a sublime pocket pass on a high screen-and-roll the next. 

He’s already started to make those around him better, and as the Lakers’ true crunch-time option once the post-Kobe Bryant era kicks off next season, Russell’s game should immediately climb to an even higher level. 

All quotes in this article were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.