D'Angelo Russell's NBA debut showed that plenty of dysfunction remains in the Lakers organization.
Russell scored four points on 2-of-7 shooting in 26 minutes and certainly claim the "bust-potential" moniker from the first four picks from the 2015 draft.
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Top pick Karl-Anthony Towns had 14 points and 12 minutes -- at Russell's expense -- because he helped the visiting Timberwolves defeat the Lakers 112-111 on their home court in the 2015 opener.
What's worse for Los Angeles is that Lakers coach Byron Russell kept the No. 2 pick in the draft on the bench during most of the quarter, criticizing his suspect defense.
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That included crunch time.
"Russell played 26 minutes and scored only four points, sitting out most of the fourth quarter in a tight game, which isn't an encouraging sign," SI.com reported.
The 76ers' Jahlil Okafor, whom the Lakers passed over for Russell with the No. 2 pick in the June draft, scored 26 points but also committed eight turnovers in a 112-95 loss to the Celtics on Wednesday.
If Okafor, the No. 3 pick, becomes a star, that will tighten the noose around Los Angeles executive vice president for basketball operations Jim Buss, and make Russell look even worse.
Meanwhile, Knicks center Kristaps Porzingis had a solid debut, scoring 16 points in 24 minutes during New York's 122-97 in Milwaukee.
But while the rest of the top four draft picks in 2015 were giving impressive debuts, Russell was hamstrung by coach Byron Scott's decision to start him at shooting guard, rather than point guard because Scott thought the indoctrination into the NBA would be easier for Russell at shooting guard, the Los Angeles Times reported.
"Russell looked lost Wednesday when he debuted as a shooting guard because Scott believed it would create an easier NBA introduction," SI.com reported. "Jordan Clarkson had the ball in his hands more often than Russell in the opener.
"We flipped that" at Thursday's practice, Kobe Bryant said, referring to Scott's quick reversal. "That's what [Russell] does best, is organize the offense. JC is a great attack player, so on the [off] side, he's probably more useful."
If Bryant knew that, why didn't Scott know that?
Starting Russell at shooting guard just made him appear as if he did not know anything out on the court and putting him ahead in the biggest-bust category.
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