January 4, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) attempts a shot against the defense of Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55)stad during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
As D’Angelo Russell casually mentioned late last month, the Los Angeles Lakers fan base is pretty spoiled and for good reason. The front office has a well documented history of pulling off blockbuster trades and impressive free agent acquisitions to greatly reduce downtime.
The Lakers have prided themselves as a win-now organization, and that hasn’t changed even with the team’s recent struggles. Expectations from fans has yet to minimize, and they often fail to remember their brightest star was a late bloomer.
The organization acquired a talented but raw high school kid via trade, and the organization developed Kobe Bryant into one of the greatest players ever to play the game from the ground up.
Bryant entered the league at 17 and didn’t show consistent signs of becoming the player fans know him to be today until a few years into his NBA journey.
While none of the young players currently on the team have earned a comparison to Bryant, each one shares similarities with other late blooming stars and should give fans hope for a brighter future.
Furthermore, the Lakers roster possesses enough young talent to provide the team with an inside track to develop another late blooming star or two.
Next: Julius Randle
October 19, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) moves to the basket against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Julius Randle
Much like Blake Griffin, who missed his entire rookie season due to a leg injury, Julius Randle is on track to explode onto the scene his sophomore season. Interestingly enough, this comparison goes deeper than their shared injury.
Both players posted 35.5″ verticals and measured about 6’9″, 250 lbs with stellar wingspans at their corresponding Draft Combines. They also share similar skill sets.
Due to their size, Griffin and Randle are classified as point forwards that possess guard-like ball handling abilities and vision which is a nightmare for opposing teams to deal with. They also entered the league without a consistent mid-range jumper, and their decision making needed work.
With each passing year, Griffin has improved exponentially, and Randle will have to prove the same within the next couple of years.
Much like Randle, Bryant was the top recruit coming out of high school. However, Bryant had Shaquille O’Neal and other key veterans to help shoulder the load he was ultimately being groomed to carry.
Randle may not have that same luxury with Bryant’s pending retirement coming sooner rather than later, but the additions of two young studs like Russell and Jordan Clarkson will provide Randle with some much needed assistance.
Next: Jordan Clarkson
Mar 24, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) handles the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dion Waiters (23) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Jordan Clarkson
Jordan Clarkson‘s rapid development was one of the lone bright spots in last year’s injury riddled season. Clarkson fell to the second round in the 2014 NBA Draft, and the Lakers came away with another late bloomer.
From the moment he put on a Lakers uniform, Clarkson came in with a chip on his shoulder and determined to put the rest of the league on notice.
A little over a year later, Clarkson has already drawn comparisons to Russell Westbrook and for good reason. Both players attack the rim relentlessly and are supreme athletes in a league filled with great ones.
It seems as though the Lakers are constructing a team of young stars much like the Oklahoma City Thunder did with Kevin Durant, Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka.
That said, the Lakers still need a dynamic leader with Bryant’s departure closing in, and they may not have one in their current lineup.
Next: D'Angelo Russell
D’Angelo Russell
After drafting Russell No. 2 overall, the Lakers conceded he may not be as NBA ready as his peer Jahlil Okafor, but he would prove to be a better long-term investment.
Although fans have yet to witness any on court action since Russell’s underwhelming Summer League performance, the general consensus concerning the two seems to agree with the Lakers reasoning. Okafor is the favorite to win the 2015-16 Rookie of the Year on a struggling Philadelphia 76ers squad, but Russell will be an All-Star for years to come.
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Coming into the league, Russell drew comparisons to Harden even though he more closely resembled Jason Kidd and Steve Nash on the surface. Although Harden showed signs of stardom playing in Westbrook and Durant’s shadow, it was not until he was traded to Houston he began to realize his full potential, hence Harden’s late bloomer status.
The same could be true for Russell. At Ohio State, Russell was good, but it was not until late in the season that scouts began to take notice.
Could Los Angeles be the place where Russell embraces his shot at stardom?
With that in mind, if Russell represents Harden, than Clarkson represents Westbrook, and Randle-Ibaka. The one missing piece for the Lakers is the leader.
Durant is a free agent next season, and although rumors show the Lakers have a legitimate shot at signing him, this young pack of late bloomers must prove they’re worthy of having a leader the likes of “KD” in order for him to come aboard.
The team’s first chance to do so is about a month away on Oct. 28 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Next: Kobe Bryant Ready for Training Camp
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