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Lakers: D’Angelo Russell’s Rookie Year Compared to 5 Other Guards

By Cody Williams

Jan 7, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell (1) calls out a play during the fourth quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 118-115. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell (1) calls out a play during the fourth quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 118-115. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 3, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts to a call in action against the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts to a call in action against the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

D’Angelo Russell vs. Russell Westbrook

Westbrook’s Per-36 Minutes Averages: 16.9 points, 5.9 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 3.7 turnovers, 39.8 percent FG%, 27.1 percent 3P%

Oklahoma City Thunder superstar point guard Russell Westbrook was a rookie in the 2008-09 season as he joined the young core of Kevin Durant and Jeff Green on the Thunder roster. With that talent around him, Westbrook immediately plunged into a large role that saw him play 32.5 minutes per game, 5.5 more minutes per game than D’Angelo Russell has this season in Los Angeles.

In terms of per-36-minute stats, though, Westbrook and Russell are actually quite similar. Westbrook put up 16.9 points 5.9 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 3.7 turnovers per 36 minutes as a rookie. By comparison, Russell has averaged 16.1 points, 4.4 assists, 4.8 boards, 1.5 steals, and 3.3 turnovers per 36 minutes through his first 50 NBA games. Worth noting is that Russell has actually been more efficient overall, hitting 1.9 percent more of his shots and 5.5 percent more of his three-point attempts than Westbrook did as a rookie.

Though Westbrook’s counting statistics may be a bit better than Russell’s, two things that have to be noted are the talent around Westbrook in OKC in comparison to the hodge-podge in LA this year and the fact that Westbrook was also a year older than Russell is when he entered the league.

Obviously the two players are quite different as there isn’t as much violent action from Russell as Westbrook routinely shows on both ends of the floor. However, it’s important to see that even superstar guards in favorable situations in regards to young talent around them can still have a ton of growth left ahead of them.

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