Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle has drawn comparisons to Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green over the years due to his high-intensity motor and ability to affect the game in various ways.
As it turns out, Randle isn't only looking to assimilate Green's jack-of-all-trades style of play, but also has studied him alongside the man who used to coach him for several years — Luke Walton.
“We've sat down and watched a lot of Draymond film together, and Julius and Draymond have even spoke on the phone a few times,” Walton said on ESPN's Zach Lowe's The Lowe Post podcast. “Draymond is a fan of his too. He thinks he's going to be a really good player, and so they've talked on the phone. And we sit down and watch film, as far as what his reads are, when he's coming off, he's into it.”
“He wants to get better, he wants to learn. I'm hoping that it is going to be a big year for him.”
While having a similar bruising build, Randle is still ways away from developing the instinct and consistency necessary to match the recently-named Defensive Player of the Year, who self-admittedly explained he had been studying help-side defense since he was 12 years old.
Randle has also looked to make strides in other aspects of his game — namely his conditioning — as he'll be needed to be that Swiss Army knife for the Lakers, coming into a year full of promise.
“He's shredded right now,” Walton said of Randle's physique. “He's been working out two to three times a day. His three-point shot looks much better. The way he's flying up and down the court. We were doing one-on-one drills the other day, and guards couldn't even get shots off because he's just moving that much quicker. And he was already one of the quickest players in the league before he put on this new training.”
“I envision with the way we play, with the way we're going to be playing next year and guys flying down the wings and Lonzo looking up to throw ahead, and any time you can beat your man, I envision him just outrunning people all day.”
With the young movement in full swing, Randle will be looked upon to lead by example to some of his younger teammates — hopeful that the team will start to make strides toward prominence in Walton's second year at the helm.
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