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Lakers: D’Angelo Russell’s Talent Shines in Rising Stars Challenge

By Cody Williams

Feb 12, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; U.S. player D Angelo Russell (1) shoots the ball in front of World player Kristaps Porzingis (6) and World player Nikola Jokic (15) in the first half during the Rising Stars Challenge basketball game at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Mark Blinch/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports
Feb 12, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; U.S. player D Angelo Russell (1) shoots the ball in front of World player Kristaps Porzingis (6) and World player Nikola Jokic (15) in the first half during the Rising Stars Challenge basketball game at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Mark Blinch/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports /
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Lakers rookie D’Angelo Russell shined for Team USA in the Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star Weekend

Defense is largely the unicorn of most of the events at NBA All-Star Weekend, which can be said for the All-Star Game on Sunday night and starts with the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday night. However, that doesn’t make what Los Angeles Lakers rookie guard D’Angelo Russell did on Friday night any less impressive.

Though Larry Drew took notes from Byron Scott and brought Russell off of the bench for the contest, that didn’t stop the 19-year-old from going out and essentially dominating his contemporaries. Playing just 16 minutes, Russell still put up 22 points and seven assists while shooting 9-15 from the field and 4-7 from three. Had he been on the floor more or in the starting lineup, there was an MVP nod that could have been had by Russell.

Again, there’s not much defense being played, but the numbers themselves aren’t the whole takeaway for Russell. Just watch the way he looked when he was playing in a less uptight and tumultuous situation with a team full of quality NBA players—he was enjoying the game of basketball, which Lakers fans unfortunately haven’t seen enough of from him in purple and gold this season:

"D’Angelo Russell was busy tonight in the #BBVARisingStars game. Check out his highlights! #NBAAllStarTOhttps://t.co/48mRLPdz1i— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 13, 2016"

That’s the first thing that you have to notice from the Rising Stars Challenge: When Russell is allowed to just go on the court and play basketball with a roster capable of playing with him and doing things around him, he’s a completely different player than what he’s been for the Lakers. He plays with more energy and the obvious talent that led to him being the No. 2-overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft shines through.

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Moreover, you have to wonder if a game like this and an impressive showing in the Rising Stars Challenge will carry over for Russell in terms of his confidence. There’s been chatter that the rookie could find his way back into the starting lineup after the break and, if the Rising Stars Challenge was able to restore his joy and confidence, that could result in the guard playing his best basketball of the year down the stretch.

It’s all speculative at this point as to what this game means for Russell moving forward (if anything at all). However, the Rising Stars Challenge showed Lakers fans again that Russell is indeed a potential superstar in this league and those fans have to be hoping that it will lead to him having the chance to and being able to show that in LA coming out of the All-Star break.

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