In his lone year at Ohio State, D’Angelo Russell was the anomaly in the film room. While coaches used these sessions as punishment for mistakes and teammates tended to nod off, Russell — a self-described “basketball junkie” — found it thrilling.
“You’re there like, ‘Man, this is exciting,’” Russell said after Monday's practice. “One: because you’re watching yourself doing stuff that kind of wows everybody. Then you see the team just getting better every day. You just see how that translates over from practice to the game. I just try to watch as much basketball as possible.”
The 19-year-old made his first big splash in Sunday’s preseason win over Maccabi Haifa, dishing out 11 assists in just 18 minutes. Russell also put some flare on his performance, as he consistently threaded the defense for highlight-reel passes.
But for Russell’s teammates, it was just more of the same that they had seen in training camp.
“He understands what’s going on out there, and I’ve seen that from day one,” Metta World Peace said. “And I’m afraid to tell that to a lot of rookies, because if someone would’ve told me that when I was a rookie it would’ve gone to my head. But I’m not afraid to tell him that he’s really, really advanced.”
World Peace, a 15-year veteran, doesn’t worry about overpraising Russell since “there’s nothing else you can say that can go to his head.” He also doesn’t see Russell having many of the same issues that plague typical rookies.
“He’s a vet, and that’s it,” World Peace said. “He does everything like a veteran, which is great. He definitely has my respect as far as mentally. He’s sharp mentally; very poised.”
In response, Russell — who will come off the bench for the second straight game Tuesday — takes World Peace’s words in stride.
“He just says I’m ahead of the game when it comes to getting guys involved and making guys better,” Russell said. “Just to hear it from a guy like that who’s been around this league for a while — I can use it as motivation to keep doing what I’m doing.”
World Peace’s theory regarding there being nothing left to say about Russell may just be challenged by his own head coach, Byron Scott. The former Showtime Laker likened Russell’s feel for passing to arguably the greatest point guard of all-time: Magic Johnson.
“It was the same with Magic,” Scott said. “When he came down the court, you made sure your hands were ready and you were looking at him. Even if he wasn’t looking at you he could fire a pass at you. D’Angelo has a lot of that type of instinct in him. I think our guys are learning that when they’re playing with him to always be ready.”
Hibbert’s Knee Dinged
Roy Hibbert did not practice due to a sore right knee. However, he was sent to Dr. Steve Lombardo, who decided not to have Hibbert undergo an MRI. He is listed as probable for Tuesday’s exhibition against Sacramento in Las Vegas.
Brandon Bass (patella contusion) is also probable after going through Monday’s practice, while Marcelo Huertas (strained hamstring) will miss his fifth straight preseason game.