nba_rant wrote:ArC_man wrote:How do you define "good leader"? Was Kobe a good leader? Jordan, Shaq, Duncan, Dirk, Lebron, Wade, Curry, Garnett, Magic, etc? They're all players with vastly different personalities/styles and could all be considered good leaders because they won. It's a contrived term with no real quantification. If you're really good and you win, then you're considered a good leader.
Agree. I think the "leader role" boils down to wins and how a "leader" makes others around them better. Dlo is in position to do exactly that with a young team and being on his second year as a 2nd overall pick.
Following the Lakers now (I only know about Laker's poor W/L record the past few years, firing of Scott and Russell being 2nd pick), I think what stood out most for me was how Russell was able to step up and take difficult shots during decisive, important moments in the summer league games. I think it takes a measure of courage, experience and mettle to carry this out and few players on every team would be able to bear such responsibility. I also do think its nice how he is able to encourage and praise his teammates as well and try to be supportive.
Nonetheless, when I see questionable decisions being made out on the floor, forced plays and the tendency for control, I think Russell will need time to mature and to broaden out. His comments and answers in the interviews (complimentary and saying all the right things in parts) gives me the impression that he hasn't yet been tested and still has growth to undergo (imo). Hopefully his development as a person and player will develop naturally and forged with the gradual passage of time as opposed to being manufactured by outside pressures and expectations.
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