Oct 17, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Ian Clark (21) is defended by Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) during the first quarter at Valley View Casino Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
5. Right now, it seems like Jordan Clarkson is the Lakers’ best player. When finally given a chance to play last year, he made astonishing strides in a short amount of time, earning himself All-Rookie first team honors. Instead of taking a rest, Clarkson worked harder than ever this summer to improve his game, only to find himself overshadowed in the media by the drafting of D’Angelo Russell and the return of Julius Randle.
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Forget about where they were chosen in the draft, Clarkson is one of the best players on the Lakers right now. He still has a lot to learn, and there will be nights when his game is off, but no one seems to work harder at their craft, aside from maybe Kobe. In his short NBA career, Clarkson has shown the potential to be a future NBA star.
6. Julius Randle may turn out to be just as good as the Lakers thought. He looks and acts so much older, but it is important to remember that he is only 20 years old and really still a rookie since he missed all of last year. Based on his preseason play it is fair to say there will be times when he dominates the games with his rare combination of speed and power, but there will be other games where he struggles to slow down and play under control. Watching Randle develop may turn out to be the most exciting aspect of this season.
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