Lakers Summer League Recap Camp: 3 Burning Questions

New Man In Town

Second overall pick D’Angelo Russell walked onto the stage of the 2015 NBA Draft with the bar set extremely high. Highly touted at 19 years old as one of the main courses of the Lakers future, there is pressure on Russell to succeed.

Especially in light of those who preferred the Lakers would have drafted Jahlil Okafor.

The groans of many became even louder with a tough summer league start for Russell, going 13-41 (31%) in his first 4 games.

Despite  in his finale vs. Utah, Russell looked to have his coming out party, Russell will still have to win over many detractors, including his coach Byron Scott, who has cooled off a little on Russell’s potential.

Magic came on the scene, and instantly he’s a Hall-of-Famer.  D’Angelo has a way to go, there’s no doubt about that.

Byron Scott, LA Lakers (via L.A. Times)

Scott told the L.A. Times, “Sometimes when you come out here and you’re the No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3 pick, you expect to come out here and tear the league up, when guys kind of eat your lunch every now in then, it brings you back down to earth and lets you know that you still have a long way to go. In the long run, this might be the best thing that ever happened to him.”

Russell’s 11/5/3 stats while impressive will still receive a rebuttal of Okafor’s 15/8 stats during summer league.  Now in light of the recent news that the Lakers were seriously in contention for the oft-troubled point guard Ty Lawson.

Next: No Strange To Greatness