The best thing to be said about D'Angelo Russell's rookie year is it's over. Russell showed some flashes worthy of a former No. 2 overall pick, but his play was as inconsistent as his now-fired coach, Byron Scott.
Russell compounded his problem when teammates shunned him to end the season after a video he secretly recorded of his teammate, 30-year-old Nick Young, admitting to cheating on his fiancée with a teenager he met in a club, leaked onto social media.
But it's now a new year with a new coach (Luke Walton, come on down!), and it would be foolish to scrap such a talent at a young age. There is still hope for Russell.
And to show his growth, Russell appeared in a new Foot Locker ad featuring fellow 2015 draft picks, Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns and Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker giving advice to en route rookie Ben Simmons, a former LSU forward projected to be a top lottery pick in the 2016 draft.
When asked for his advice, Russell asks if Simmons carries a phone. Simmons affirms and gives the phone to Russell, who promptly chucks it into the ocean.
"Trust me," he says with a knowing look.
Not bad advice for anyone, really.
