Julius Randle has been a major talking point for the Los Angeles Lakers this preseason. Byron Scott has not minced words when it comes to the Lakers’ prized rookie, and many of the veterans have taken to mentoring the young power forward.
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Randle is very fortunate to have mentors like Kobe, Carlos Boozer and Byron Scott to learn from. Bryant knows how much it can help a young player, and had a strong message to Randle about taking advantage of it according to Lakers Nation Reporter Serena Winters:
.@MarkG_Medina asked Kobe about Julius Randle having guys like himself & Byron to help him grow: "It means he can't f— it up."
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) October 20, 2014
KB continued:"You f— this up, you're a really big idiot. ESPN are idiots but then you're a really big idiot if you manage to f— this up"
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) October 20, 2014
Bryant delivered his comments to the media with a typical Bryant smirk. Never one to hide his feelings, Kobe understands that Randle has an excellent opportunity to grow under these veterans and he would be wise to take advantage.
Randle enjoyed his finest game of the preseason, totaling eight points, five rebounds and two blocks in only 20 minutes. Randle, along with Ronnie Price and Ed Davis, were extremely instrumental in helping the Lakers come back from a 16-point halftime deficit to defeat the Utah Jazz.
The veterans on the Lakers are not taking it easy on the young rookie. They are going to push him to his limits and get the most out of him. In the long run, they believe it will be best for him, and they are probably right.
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