In years past when a young player’s opportunity was reduced, it was all too often with the wrong intentions. Ronnie Price took minutes from Jordan Clarkson. Lou Williams was playing in fourth quarters for D’Angelo Russell. Kobe Bryant flaunted the third highest usage rate in the league during his farewell tour.
So, when Luke Walton announced before the game that Russell would be coming off the bench to start the game, most people freaked out because the intention was easy to ignore given the news.
Thing is: Clarkson (another young-ish player looking to find a role) is not the aforementioned Ronnie Price.