Lakers We Want to See at All-Star Weekend

Rising Stars Challenge: D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram

Barring any major collapses or injuries, D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram should represent the Lakers in the Rising Stars Challenge come All-Star Weekend.

For the past two years, the Rising Stars Challenge has been formatted as a “Team U.S.A vs The World” game, resulting in some snubs. However, it’s hard to imagine anyone beating out Russell or Ingram for their spots.

Russell is by far the best point guard of the two draft classes. Among players drafted in 2015, Russell is in the top 5 in assists (4.5), points (14.8) and 3-pointers made per game (2.0).He is also the only player in his draft class averaging at least 15 points and 4 assists per game.

In fact, Russell is one of two players in the league averaging at least 15 points and 4 assists per game while playing under 30 minutes. But let’s keep pretending like Devin Booker is the better of the two.

Ingram, on the other hand, has looked like a rookie all season. If fans thought Russell had a rough rookie season, they might not want to look at Ingram’s stats this year.

Ingram is leading his draft class in minutes played (27.9) but is only fifth in points per game (8.2). Is it safe to say this kid is a bust? No, unless you’re one of those people.

B.I. is starting to pick up steam in the month of January, averaging 11.1 points per game shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 42.3 percent from deep. Compare that to last month when he was shooting 20 percent from 3 and it’s hard not to get a little excited.

Russell and Jordan Clarkson represented the Lakers in the Rising Stars Challenge last year and they put on a show for the fans. Hopefully this year, Russell and Ingram get the chance to do the same.