5 – D’Angelo Russell
Odds: 7/1
Drafted: 2nd by the Los Angeles Lakers
| FGM | FGA | FG% | 3FGM | 3FGA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | Pts | |
| Summer | 23 | 61 | 0.38 | 2 | 17 | 0.12 | 11 | 16 | 0.688 | 26 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 26 | 59 |
| Preseason | 8 | 24 | 0.33 | 4 | 11 | 0.36 | 5 | 7 | 0.714 | 14 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 25 |
| Total | 31 | 85 | 6 | 28 | 16 | 23 | 40 | 35 | 7 | 1 | 31 | 84 | |||
| Average | 3.1 | 8.5 | 36.5% | 0.6 | 2.8 | 21.4% | 1.6 | 2.3 | 69.6% | 4 | 3.5 | 1 | 0.1 | 3.1 | 8.4 |
A combination of Lou Williams, Kobe Bryant, Nick Young, Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell makes for an intriguing albeit ball dominant bunch of guards. The Lakers may have no choice but to play with a three guard line-up, but even if that is the case I don’t expect Russell to get the number of looks many were suggesting when he was drafted.
He has been below average with his shooting, 36% from the field and 21% from the three point line, that will need to improve significantly if he is to get over ten points a game on minimal shot attempts. He did have 11 assists against only 2 turnovers in 18 minutes, although that was against a clearly over matched Maccabi Haifa from Israel.
With a doubt on his role and minutes going into the season opener, he will be looking towards assists and even if he can decrease his turnovers as the season progresses he will find it hard to crack into the top three in the race for Rookie of the Year.
Next: Stanley Johnson