Julius Randle is understandably impatient and raring to get back on the hardwood, but seeing that he is coming off a pretty serious injury, he may have to mature fast.
For someone as young as Randle, that is easier said than done. It is understandable that playing a total of only about 14 minutes in your rookie season will in all be pretty much frustrating, but the fact remains that one season doesn't define an NBA player and what he can do.
And reasoning with him on patience is a player who has been there before — Kobe Bryant. Bryant, who entered the league at a ripe age of 17 years old is now acting mentor, and here is an exchange between the two which Randle may want to seriously take note of (via Yahoo Sports)
"I'm frustrated," Randle texted. "I just want to play basketball."
"Patience," Kobe Bryant responded to him.
"I'm 19 years old," Randle wondered. "How do I have patience?"
"It's the only choice," Bryant told him. "You'll see," he added.
Kobe, who himself is coming back from an injury (torn rotator cuff) as well, has been trying to be patient as well. He is playing the final year of his contract and no one knows what he plans to do after this coming season. And as he said to his sophomore teammate which onlookers may want to take note of as well, there's no other choice but to be patient.
Now, aside from Bryant, there is the returning Metta World Peace. Peace is there to, of course, hone up their defense but at the same time guide the sophomore to be a better forward.
With someone who has had a colorful career, Peace's guidance is bound to show in the coming season. In fact, such is said to be the reason why the Lakers hired him — being impressed at the improvements that Randle has shown with Peace mentoring.
Thus, the coming season is not just about another sophomore, Jordan Clarkson or incoming rookie D'Angelo Russell. It involves Julius Randle as well. Together, the three form perhaps the future core of the Lakers. So what Lakers fans see this season could pretty much dictate what to expect in the years to come.
