EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — D’Angelo Russell was the No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft, and he chose the No. 1 jersey with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The point guard from Ohio State said he knows he’s under a blinding spotlight in Hollywood, and he seems eager to meet the challenge with some help from Kobe Bryant.
Russell and fellow draft picks Larry Nance Jr. and Anthony Brown were formally introduced by Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak on Monday. The Lakers are hoping they’re all big parts of a new core for a proud franchise coming off its worst season.
Russell emphasized his mental toughness and determination when discussing his future with the Lakers.
“I consider myself the top basketball player in the draft,” Russell said when asked if his athleticism matched the best players in his draft class. “If that’s me being the most athletic guy or non-athletic, I’m going to get the job done.”
Nance, meanwhile, said he was “terrified” to speak to Kobe Bryant after the Lakers drafted him because of a tweet Nance sent out in 2012 criticizing Bryant.
Nance says he regrets the tweet, which read: “Gee I sure hope Kobe can keep his hands to himself in Denver again,” with the hashtag “rapist.”
Bryant was arrested and accused of sexual assault in Colorado in 2003. The criminal charges were dropped, and Bryant settled a civil lawsuit.
Nance sent a lengthy message to Bryant on Friday and got a response that eased his anxiety: “Hey, you’re a kid. We’ve all said and done things we’ve regretted, and it’s water under the bridge. Welcome to the family.”
Nance and fellow draftees D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Brown all expressed admiration for Bryant, the third-leading scorer in NBA history. They’re also prepared if Bryant gives them some of his infamous disdain for rookies and young players.
“You hear all the stories about how Kobe — Mr. Bryant — is so intense and always on edge, and I was just nervous to send him a long message and maybe just get an ‘OK,’ or not a response at all,” Nance said. “I’m just so glad he handled that in the manner he did. I just can’t thank him enough for forgiving me.”