If Jordan Clarkson had a bigger ego, the Los Angeles Lakers' selection of point guard D'Angelo Russell second overall in the 2015 NBA draft after Clarkson just made the 2015 All-Rookie first team on the strength of his play at point guard could have caused a rift in the two's relationship before it even began. Instead, Clarkson has by all accounts fully embraced his likely move to shooting guard in the Lakers' starting lineup alongside Russell in what the team's front office hopes will be the team's backcourt for the next decade.
Clarkson and Russell first demonstrated their off the court chemistry in Las Vegas Summer League, with Russell ending Clarkson's media availability by jokingly asking why Clarkson could not finish his lob pass. Then the two were seen returning early to the Lakers' training facility to take part in voluntary workouts nearly three weeks before training camp was slated to begin. The latest chapter in the guards' bromance was Russell posting a photo of the two of them as celebrity coaches at the Power 106 All-Star game to his Instagram feed:
And here is video of the two new friends dunking all over a child-sized rim:
@Dloading and @JClark5on having fun on the low rim at the Power106 game last night pic.twitter.com/Tblt0F5l9G
— Dunkademics.com (@Dunkademics) September 21, 2015
It's a welcome site for Lakers fans to see this young backcourt building chemistry and getting ready to begin their on-court growth together when Lakers' training camp kicks off one week from today in Hawaii.