D'Angelo Russell averaged 22 points, six rebounds, and four assists for the Los Angeles Lakers in the Las Vegas Summer League. Apparently, those numbers were not good enough to be named to the first or second All-Summer League teams.
Russell only played in four games. By contrast, Tyus Jones of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who averaged 19 points, six rebounds, and four assists to earn Summer League MVP, played in seven.
This slight shouldn't ruffle Russell's feathers too much. It's just a positive for anyone one to go out in the LVSL and put on a show. Russell certainly did that. He made it look easy, like he didn't need to be there to prove anything.
Russell talked about the Summer League experience, via ESPN's Baxter Holmes:
“I think we learned a lot,” Russell said. “A lot of guys went forward, a lot of guys stayed the same, and a lot of guys went backwards. But as a team, I feel like we showed that we're on our way. As a team, we didn't go backwards. That's all that matters right now.”
Year 2 will be a big one for Russell. His rookie campaign didn't go perfectly; the Lakers posted their worst record in franchise history. During Kobe Bryant's farewell tour and with tanking perhaps in mind, Russell averaged just 28.2 minutes per game and started 48 of the 80 he played in.
This coming season, along with the addition of number two overall pick in this year's draft, Brandon Ingram, expectations are higher for Russell and the Lakers.
[button width=”full” button size=”bigger” color=”custom” align=”center” textcolor=”#ffffff” texthcolor=”#ffffff” bgcolor=”#8b0000″ link=”https://clutchpoints.com/luke-walton-speaks-dangelo-russell-phenomenal-summer/”]NEXT: Luke Walton speaks on D’Angelo Russell’s ‘phenomenal’ summer[/button]
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