Is D'Angelo Russell the next Smush Parker?

[Shade8780]

Only difference is Smush went undrafted and this clown went #2.

Discuss.

[VengefulAngel]

Worse.

[BasedTom]

worse, lakers passed on a ton of talent to get this bust

[Naero]

No. Both may be disreputed at this time, but you can contextualize causality to see the difference between them.

D'Angelo Russell has been flaky-worthy as he pales in comparison to most co-draftees, but it is more forgivably explainable than Smush Parker's case; Russell has been slow-footed

[HOoopCityJones]

No. Both may be disreputed at this time, but you can contextualize causality to see the difference between them.

D'Angelo Russell has been flaky-worthy as he pales in comparison to most co-draftees, but it is more forgivably explainable than Smush Parker's case; Russell has been slow-footed—both figuratively and literally—as he overcomes a steep learning curve to actualize his potential, whereas Parker never had tremendous potential to begin with and has been mostly the beneficiary of overinvested playing time on a Lakers team that—outside from Kobe—was bound to be lottery-contenders.

Moreover, the best predictor to the future before it transpires are patterns, and Russell's look more propitious than Parker's—a work ethic, a determination to live up to the daunting expectations of helping turning this franchise around, and a holdback in on-court tentativity that'll lessen with more on-the-court time. We've never seen that dispositional makeup in Parker, who—akin to Rajon Rondo, who became more indiscreet in recent years—clashed with coaches and teammates and had a questionable off-the-court work ethic—not that his lackadaisical defense on the court really embellished otherwise, but it's a constructional habit that Russell has carried.

I'd say that we stop overreacting with first-impression bias for now. He undoubtedly has yet to even dazzle flashes of his peak potential so far, and I don't blame the antsy fans for vocalizing their disappointment in that, but many are overreacting as if he'll be closer to a Kwame Brown-level draft-bust than at least an All-Star in the league—after a sample-sizeable amount of games.

I'll wait til post All-star if that ni99a isn't at least averaging 10pts and 8 assts by then, he's a bust anyway you slice it.

People compare it to Kobe his fist two years but at least he was a high flyer who entertained the crowd off the bench, this kid has literally done noting from the starting position, he struggles to get at least 5 assts, he struggles shooting the ball as well.

Two things that were touted as his specialty.

If it was just foot speed then I wouldn't have much to worry about him but his overall play has sent up major red flags. He can't even stay in front of the mediocre PGs in the league, how the hell is he supposed to compete nightly out West of all places, in the same division as Cp3 AND Rondo?

[senelcoolidge]

This idiot is dating a kardashian, that's tells you everything. He's not about being a great player.