After a leg injury that ended his rookie season, Julius Randle has shown flashes of his potential after being selected seventh overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2014. With a unique ability to handle the basketball for his size, he has drawn comparisons to Zach Randolph and Lamar Odom.
While Randle has shown his ability to dominate the game with his power and strength, many opponents have backed off of him and forced him to take jumpers.
As a result, the Lakers are working to improve Randle’s jump shot. Tracy Murray, who is currently the team’s shooting coach, believes it will require a lot of work for the second-year forward to unlearn his shot and focus on forming an “L” with his elbow via Bill Oram of the Orange County Register:
“I’m just not sure if he knows how much work it’s going to take to do it,” Murray said.
With Randle looking to improve his jump shot throughout the season, he shares he has not dramatically changed his form for the most part, via Oram:
“It was just learned everywhere I’ve gone,” Randle said. “I haven’t done anything where I’ve changed my shot dramatically. Little things, getting rotations on the ball, getting lift, legs, all that stuff.”
After losing 18 pounds this past off-season, Randle has already established a strong work ethic that will serve him well. While changing his shooting form will be a challenge, adding a reliable jump shot to his skillset will be a nightmare for opponents moving forward.
Along with D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson, Randle is looking to speed up his development in hopes of helping the Lakers return to contention. Although it will take some time, the Lakers have established a young core for the post-Kobe Bryant era.