Just days after general manager Mitch Kupchak noted that the retirement year of Kobe Bryant is impeding on the development of the younger players, one rookie went off an had a career night. D'Angelo Russell has faced a lot of criticism in his young NBA career, getting benched multiple times, but he put everything together in the loss to the Sacramento Kings. However, it was clouded by an ankle injury.
Russell put up 27 points against the Kings making 11 of 16 shots in 29 minutes coming off the bench, but it ended with an ankle injury that could keep him out for the foreseeable future. According to ESPN's Baxter Holmes, X-rays were negative on fractures in the rookie's ankle, but it appears he will not be available for the team's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. Russell was quick to say that he was frustrated by the timing of the injury as he has just started to get into a good rhythm.
"Knock on wood, I've never really rolled my ankles or anything, [but] I knew when I rolled it, it was bad," Russell said, via ESPN.com. "I tried to go [back] out there and work. I knew I couldn't go."
The improvement of Russell was likely a welcomed sight for the Lakers. The point guard's rookie season has not exactly been going to plan. He entered the year expecting to be a starter and since then head coach Byron Scott has put Jordan Clarkson and Lou Williams in the starting lineup for the backcourt. Russell has been coming off the bench in hot and cold minutes. However, the Kings' game was a hot moment and something that boosted the confidence of the point guard as he is convinced it can only go up from here.
"I feel great. I know the work I'm putting in," Russell said, via ESPN.com. "I just really want to build the confidence of my teammates to look at me, and if I make a play call or if I call something, [they trust me]. Me being young, I'm going to definitely mess up a lot more than I'm going to make the right play, but I want my teammates to be able to trust me and look at me as a veteran guard trying to run the team."
The timing of Russell's career game is interesting since Kupchak made the comments of the young player's lack of development. Bryant heard the words of his general manager and told the media that he would love to see the young guys out there making players. He sat the fourth quarter of the Kings game which opened the door for Russell. That is not likely to become a habit until the season is over. Until then, the Lakers will make do with what they have.
