*Disclaimer: This piece does not reflect the views of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Freshman, G, Ohio State
6’5”, 193 LBS
8.3 % Body Fat
6’9.75” Wing Span
8’6” Standing Reach
College Stats In 2014-15:
35 games, 33.9 MPG, 19.3 PPG, 5.0 APG, 5.7 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 44.9 FG%, 41.1 3P%, 75.6 FT%
2014-15 Consensus All-American First Team
Where He’ll Go:
He’s expected to be a top-5 pick.
Best Game In 2014-15:
Russell had it all going for him during a 79-60 win over Rutgers on Feb. 28. The guard had 23 points to go with 11 assists and 11 rebounds, his first and only triple-double of his college career. He shot an efficient 8-of-13 from the field and was 3-of-7 from deep and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line.
Scouting Report:
If you ask D’Angelo Russell why a team should draft him, well, he won’t hold back any punches.
“I’m the best player in the draft.”
Russell was great with the media members during the 2015 Draft Combine in Chicago. He didn’t take part in 5-on-5 games, but did have his measurements taken and was available to meet with teams (he did meet with the Timberwolves).
Even though he thinks he is the best player in the draft, he noted that his decision to go pro was difficult simply because of the brotherhood he built with his Ohio State teammates.
He probably made the right decision as he’ll likely be a top-5 pick.
While his talent speaks for itself, many question whether or not Russell's game will translate into a point or shooting guard at the next level.
He’s likely the best passer in the draft class (there are stories of him hitting his teammates in the head with passes they didn’t see coming in practice) and has an obvious knack for scoring the ball. But we’ve seen in the past where “tweeners” haven’t been able to find their place in the NBA. Russell doesn’t think he’ll have that problem.
“Honestly, I feel like I’m a basketball player, so if the ball’s in my hand, I guess that makes me a point guard, but if it’s not then I guess I’m a two-guard,” Russell said at the Combine.
Most experts believe Russell is more of a point guard than a shooting guard.
"He is a combo guard who is more of a point guard, in my opinion, than he is a two‑guard,” ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla said.
Russell’s an all-around player maker with an extremely high basketball IQ (something he says is his greatest strength).
If you haven’t been able to tell yet, Russell’s confidence in his game is sky high. The kids might even call that “swagger”.
With all of the strengths Russell has, there are some concerns. While he’s silky smooth, he’s not all that explosive which leads some to wonder if he could easily be shut down by an opposing defense. Will he be able to carry an offense? That’s something we won’t know until we see him on the court with some of the NBA’s best players.
He also gets lost defensively at times. Half of that is probably concentration, which can be improved, but the other half might be his athleticism. And with so many great point guards in the NBA, Russell will be challenged night-after-night in the NBA.
“Those guys got to guard me also,” Russell said, oozing confidence.
Russell will definitely have nights where his confidence is rattled and it will be interesting to see how he bounces back from that.
He knows he isn’t perfect and there is plenty of work to do before and after he hits the NBA, wherever he goes.
“(I need to work on) everything. Every part of my game, I’m taking to another level.”
Twitter Talk
Quotable
“I think D’Angelo Russell has a chance in time to be an NBA star." – ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla on the potential of D’Angelo Russell.