D’Angelo Russell will start for the Lakers for the rest of the season and he’s ready to seize the moment
As the Los Angeles Lakers traveled to the United Center on Sunday night to take on the Chicago Bulls, Lakers fans received a bit of a pleasant jolt as head coach Byron Scott inserted rookie point guard D’Angelo Russell into the starting lineup for the first time since much earlier in the season.
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Russell replaced Lou Williams in the starting lineup to play alongside Jordan Clarkson in the starting backcourt, something that fans and people who want to see the Lakers improve have been pining over for quite some time.
In his newfound starting role, Russell played 34 minutes and put up 15 points, six assists, two rebounds, and a steal while shooting 6-13 from the floor and 2-2 from three. Even better than that, Russell only committed two turnovers on the night, an area that he’s struggled in over the course of his rookie season.
Though his defense and the Lakers’ defense as a whole was lackluster to say the least, Russell impressed in his first game back in the starting lineup, which gives reason to believe that this will be a sign of things to come.
And, in fact, it will be. After the game, Scott talked to the media and was obviously asked about starting Russell. In his response, Byron stated that Russell will be starting for the rest of the season:
Byron Scott said D’Angelo Russell will start for the rest of the season. Russell said he wants to show that it’s deserved.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) February 22, 2016
That’s obviously huge for Russell and the future of the Lakers as it relates to the 19-year-old’s development. However, it seems like it could also affect Russell’s mentality almost immediately as he wants to make sure that he shows everyone that he deserves to be in this position. The rookie said as much talking to the media after the game:
DR "With these last few games I want to show that I have to be out there, build that trust with my coach that he has to put me on the floor"
— Bill Oram (@billoram) February 22, 2016
Russell has been far from perfect over the course of his first year in the league. However, it’s comments like this one where he’s showing his competitive nature and urge to prove himself in addition to his playmaking ability that really makes you wonder just what his ceiling is as a player.
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The rookie has said all season with the Lakers that he doesn’t care about starting or coming off of the bench, as long as he can prove himself. However, this vote of confidence to finish the season has to mean a great deal to him as a young player in the league in addition to likely being beneficial to the future of the Lakers. If Sunday night is the start of Russell proving himself, fans will certainly take more of that for the rest of the year.