Los Angeles Lakers point guard D’Angelo Russell has had an interesting season, to say the very least. From initial miscues, to in-season improvement, then to off-court drama, Russell has experienced a season unlike that of any other rookie in the NBA.
To start, D’Angelo had a poor beginning to the season—his vaunted vision and his silky jumpshot were nowhere to be seen. Struggling to dictate the game on both ends of the floor, Russell looked lost and confused.
Though his rookie year hasn’t been as impressive as that of Karl-Anthony Towns or Kristaps Porzingis, several extenuating circumstances have to be taken into consideration when evaluating Russell’s rookie year.