The Los Angeles Lakers have been facing issues surrounding the health and declining skills of Kobe Bryant. While retirement rumors have been repeatedly slammed by both the NBA team and the Black Mamba himself, the fact remains that the Los Angeles Lakers have been busy piling up on rookies deemed to offer impressive potential. Hence, the entry of the likes of D'Angelo Russell in the Los Angeles Lakers roster could not be deemed as anything but an effort by the NBA team to ensure that Kobe Bryant's imminent exit will not cause them to fall apart.
With the regular season getting nearer, the Los Angeles Lakers are also gearing up to once again try to make it to the playoffs and hopefully, steal the crown from the Golden State Warriors. However, the health of Kobe Bryant remains an obstacles especially if the Black Mamba's performance is compared to LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat and Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Hence, it seems logical for the Los Angeles Lakers' star player to try and mentor one of the up and coming athletes in his NBA team.
Despite his age and the health concerns surrounding his basketball career at this point, Kobe Bryant still inspires a number of young and aspiring stars in the NBA. A particular NBA star who looks up to the great Kobe Bryant is none other than Los Angeles Lakers rookie D'Angelo Russell. According to Kurt Helin of NBC Sports, "the Lakers drafted Russell No. 2 because they saw a little Kobe in him, in the way he approached the game." He added, "They saw the mentality that helped make Kobe a star."
The same sentiment was echoed by D'Angelo Russell himself in an interview earlier this year. "I always preach, I didn't get here from being the most athletic guy, the fastest guy, the tallest guy, or the strongest, I got here from my mind," said rookie D'Angelo Russell. The Los Angeles Lakers rookie added, "That's something when I watch Kobe interviews or listen to Kobe talk, he's mentally on another level, when I listen to him, I relate to that."
However, D'Angelo Russell remains adamant on the fact that he does not want to be casted under the shadow of Kobe Bryant. That is, he refuses to let the public categorize him as the next NBA star to take over the legacy of the Black Mamba. Instead, the Los Angeles Lakers rookie wants to make a name for himself on his own terms.
"When people say 'the next Kobe,' there's not going to be a next Kobe, there's not going to be a next Michael Jordan," said D'Angelo Russell. He went on to say, "But, there's something you can steal from all those players, stir it up and get what you get out of it. And, I want to be that player that's the next D'Angelo Russell."
