After a sorry debut last year, Julius Randle will try to make up for lost time as he prepares to make a lasting impression for the coming 2015-16 NBA season.
For those who are unaware, Randle saw only a total of 14 minutes last season. With so much expectation on the Los Angeles Lakers rookie, Randle broke his leg and such forced him to sit out the entire 2014-15 NBA season.
A year after that gruesome and unfortunate injury, Randle is back and will get the chance to show the stuff that he failed to do for his team last year. Will the 20-year-old product of the University of Kentucky finally shine?
A lot of NBA fans caught a glimpse of Randle in the Summer League though it wasn’t impressive. Randle is a bit overweight and often caught struggling making his way into the Lakers offense. While such impatience is nothing new for rookies, Randle is expected to go with the flow at some point and blend in well with the system of head coach Byron Scott.
Helping him out will be an old hand and former Laker known to be among the league’s successful forwards in Metta World Peace.
Peace is reportedly set to be signing up for one year though a lot hinges on how fit he is to play for the coming NBA wars. The temperamental forward has been known for his hard-nosed defense and knack for psyching opposing players out in the past. He has however proven that he can be effective when called upon to focus on the game.
Randle seems to have already found that out.
“This guy is arguably one of the greatest defenders of all time, so my thing is, ‘Let me test myself.’” Randle said via the LA Daily News. “‘Let me see where I’m at and how good I am.’” I have no fear in anybody.”
Apparently, Randle is not intimidated by Peace and much of that showed this Summer. Peace seemed to be fine with the fact that the sophomore is not afraid of him, seeing it as a positive development and a good sign for the Lakers headed into the season.
With the Lakers expected to be led by Kobe Bryant this season once more, a lot of focus lies on the performance of its young players.
Aside from Randle, there is another sophomore in Jordan Clarkson and incoming rookie D’ Angelo Russell to monitor.
Along with some newcomers like Roy Hibbert, Lou Williams and Brandon Bass, it will be interesting to see if the Lakers can finally dig themselves out of the hole they have placed themselves in for the last two years.
All that starts this October when the NBA 2015-16 season unwraps.
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