October 22, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) controls the ball against the Golden State Warriors during the second half at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
D’Angelo Russell: Luke Skywalker
If I’m allowed to say so, this is my favorite comparison. When you think about Luke Skywalker’s story-arc from A New Hope to Return of the Jedi, it’s 100 percent what the Lakers are hoping that Russell will be for the organization.
In Star Wars, Luke was ultimately the protagonist of the larger storyline. He grew from a character that was obviously a part of something much bigger than he could realize into the hero that would take down Darth Vader, the Imperial Army, and all of the evil corrupting the galaxy. The potential for him to be that hero was always within him, but he had to be coached and trained to full realize his true power and what he was capable of.
That’s the 19-year-old point guard in his first season in Los Angeles. The potential and skills that could make him the savior of the Lakers organization are clearly already in place. For a player his age to make the plays and passes that he does with relative frequency is near unheard of. He’s a special talent, but he still must grow and hone his skills as an NBA player before he can truly be the hero that restores order in the world of professional basketball and has the Lakers back at the top of the standings.
Next: Kobe Bryant