Rick Pitino calls Russell best passer in last 30 years besides Magic

[JohnMax]

In recent interview with ESPN.com, Louisville head basketball coach Rick Pitino heaped some high praise on former Ohio State point guard D'Angelo Russell.

Pitino told Hannah Storm, "In the last 30 some-odd years, outside of Magic Johnson he's the best passer I've seen come along."

Woah, just let that sink in for a second.

Russell grew up in Louisville and was recruited heavily by Pitino.

"(He) has great instincts (and) really understands the game very well," Pitino said. "Anytime you have that type of passing skills and that offensive mind for the game I think you're going to be something special."

Pitino even said he wouldn't be surprised if Russell nabbed Rookie of the Year honors next season.

https://vine.co/v/e5w9erhElBL
http://i.imgur.com/79c7dOg.png

[SugarHill]

http://i0.wp.com/www.helloloser.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/ku-xlarge-6.gif

[Sarcastic]

I think he has a claim to that title as well

http://jocksandstilettojill.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/jason-kidd-blonde-hair.jpg

[oh the horror]

Haters in 3...2...

[SugarHill]

https://31.media.tumblr.com/5bd1b2c9bbc5d1cc13478edcd971f6b1/tumblr_mi67uesu2E1qb07d0o1_400.gif

[raprap]

I see a lot of JKidd in Russell with a much higher ceiling in his jumpshot.

[FireDavidKahn]

He obviously has never seen Rubio:facepalm

[Raymone]

He obviously has never seen Rubio:facepalm
lol'd

[RRR3]

http://www.dailybusinessreview.com/image/EM/mario_chalmers_wallpaper-com-Article-201409041455.jpg

[GIF REACTION]

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[Droid101]

No shit. I just watched this Russell highlight video... near the end they start showing his passes. Wow. Best college passing since Magic, easy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKGjtVa4VMw

[oh the horror]

High praise by him and Jerry West but I'm more of the opinion that they should relax before they fall into the realm of overhyping the kid up and just let dude go out there and perform.


I mean since Magic Johnson? Errrrr

[RonSwanson]

Interesting since he wouldn't offer him a starting position and went off to Ohio St.

[Sarcastic]

Look the kid is special, but let's see him play an NBA game before we anoint him as the best passer since Magic. That much expectation shouldn't be put on him this early.

[1987_Lakers]

I still havent seen a link where Jerry West praises him.

[SugarHill]

No shit. I just watched this Russell highlight video... near the end they start showing his passes. Wow. Best college passing since Magic, easy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKGjtVa4VMw
very nice looking game. really does look like a cross between harden and curry

[FireDavidKahn]

lol'd
Are you seriously disputing that fact that Ricky has incredible court vision and passing ability?:facepalm

This has nothing to do with how you view him overall.

[Sarcastic]

People forget about this guy too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8b0XbtpFsA

[VeeCee15]

MAybe D'angelo was a good pickup for the lakers after all.

Cause let's be honest...Jahlil okafor at his best would be a 10times lesser player than prime Shaq.

[Nashty]

http://www.sportsdebateuniverse.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/nash-8.jpg

[NBAplayoffs2001]

He's honestly the only player in this draft that I thought would be a surefire stud eventually. I didn't like him at first but I badly wanted him to be a Knick. Although I think he will fit right into Los Angeles. I can't imagine if he got drafted by a small town franchise, he just has the charisma and personality to live it up in like cities like NYC or LA. If he develops Kobe's work ethic this dude could save the franchise once Kobe decides to finally retire.

Also the Lakers GM is proven to be a good (arguably great) one. I honestly thought they would go Okafor but I'm glad they didn't. Russell is too good of a talented future pro to go to a lowly Sixers team. I did feel bad for Okafor when he got drafted lol :lol. Somewhere Embiid was cursing out the Sixers when this pick happened.

[GOBB]

High praise by him and Jerry West but I'm more of the opinion that they should relax before they fall into the realm of overhyping the kid up and just let dude go out there and perform.


I mean since Magic Johnson? Errrrr

What praise did West give Russell because West claims Mudiay will be the star of this class along with Towns. And has the upside to be top 5 at his position than anyone in his class.

[AirFederer]

Bill?

[KyrieTheFuture]

Well, he'll have a lot of opportunity to showcase it with all the passing to Kobe he'll have to do.

Also **** Pitino for saying he's basically the second best passer ever

[RedBlackAttack]

That's pretty absurd.

But, Russell's game really does remind me of Manu Ginobili. He has that innate vision and ability to put weird spin on the ball to get it into tight spaces. I think that's his ceiling... which is damn good.

[UK2K]

I can believe it, but not because Rick said it.

Everything with him is always 'the best' or 'the greatest' or 'the worst' he's ever seen.

[Ca$H]

That's pretty absurd.

But, Russell's game really does remind me of Manu Ginobili. He has that innate vision and ability to put weird spin on the ball to get it into tight spaces. I think that's his ceiling... which is damn good.

I'm thinking Harden with Kidd's passing/vision.

[RedBlackAttack]

I'm thinking Harden with Kidd's passing/vision.
That seems pretty lofty to me. I don't see him as quite that kind of a generational player, which is what a Harden/Kidd combination would be.

I'm pretty cozy with my Ginobili comparison. Russell is an elite passer with a pretty big frame for a combo guard, just like Manu. Both can do pretty much anything offensively, but aren't top tier pure NBA athletes. They'll give you the points, assists, rebounds... whatever it takes on a specific night.

I think he'd be awesome in a system like the Spurs or Hawks, where you need to be very versatile and the ball is constantly hopping. With the Lakers? Who knows. It might work, it might not. It all depends on how their rebuild goes.

I don't personally believe Russell is the kind of guy who is going to go out and give you 20+/5/5 on a bad team. Now, if he's Harden+Kidd? That's one of the best players in the league and a guy who could carry a bad team. I'm not quite that bullish on Russell, but I'm a huge fan of Manu so comparing a rookie to that kind of unique talent is pretty high praise for me.

[IGOTGAME]

I think he has a claim to that title as well

http://jocksandstilettojill.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/jason-kidd-blonde-hair.jpg

id say that he may be a better passer than Magic.

[IGOTGAME]

That seems pretty lofty to me. I don't see him as quite that kind of a generational player, which is what a Harden/Kidd combination would be.

I'm pretty cozy with my Ginobili comparison. Russell is an elite passer with a pretty big frame for a combo guard, just like Manu. Both can do pretty much anything offensively, but aren't top tier pure NBA athletes. They'll give you the points, assists, rebounds... whatever it takes on a specific night.

I think he'd be awesome in a system like the Spurs or Hawks, where you need to be very versatile and the ball is constantly hopping. With the Lakers? Who knows. It might work, it might not. It all depends on how their rebuild goes.

I don't personally believe Russell is the kind of guy who is going to go out and give you 20+/5/5 on a bad team. Now, if he's Harden+Kidd? That's one of the best players in the league and a guy who could carry a bad team. I'm not quite that bullish on Russell, but I'm a huge fan of Manu so comparing a rookie to that kind of unique talent is pretty high praise for me.

I agree with the Ginobili comparison...but I think Ginobili was a better athlete. If he turns out to be Manu then Im happy.

[RonSwanson]

Go have sex with Jean-Ralphio.


Go ahead remind, remind me who the fuvk are you? jean Ralphio sounds like a bitch who'd have Frenchi buttsex with a bitch like you.

[senelcoolidge]

Hyping his guy. Russell might not even have a long NBA career. :lol

[SpecialQue]

No shit. I just watched this Russell highlight video... near the end they start showing his passes. Wow. Best college passing since Magic, easy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKGjtVa4VMw

This guy's gonna have the rest of the league running scared.

http://i.imgur.com/S49VAfP.jpg

Fvck does it feel good to be a Laker fan right now.

[GOBB]

Rick Pitino does coke saying some nonsense like this

[SyRyanYang]

I think he meant best passer in college since Magic?

[Funktion]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAPu4nLzDbQ

[RightTwoCensor]

I said this in a different thread:

He passes the ball more like Manu Ginobili than James Harden with his consistent ability to be flashy and spontaneous with the pass. He can probably average double digit assists on a system-less team as the groups #1 ball handler.

[NumberSix]

I love when people make these kinds of proclamations about players who've never played an NBA game.

[GOBB]

I think he meant best passer in college since Magic?

Even still that's wrong.

[Harison]

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:applause:

[HOoopCityJones]

I love when people make these kinds of proclamations about players who've never played an NBA game.


Well, he did say "In college".

Ya'll the one getting asshurt abt it. :confusedshrug: