Kobe Bryant Teaches D'Angelo Russell The Secret To Laker Basketball

D'Angelo Russell, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, has been handed a gift: He gets to start his career under the mentorship of five-time champion Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest NBA minds of this or any generation.

So what was one of the first lessons Bryant, who has a vast amount of NBA knowledge over his two-decade NBA career, imparted on the rookie? Let's go to AP reporter Greg Beacham:

D'Angelo Russell says he has gathered some important insight while talking to Kobe: "He told me he likes to shoot the ball."

— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) September 28, 2015

That's right, Bryant essentially told Russell "pass me the ball and get out of my way."

Bryant admitting that he likes to shoot the ball should be of no surprise to Russell. Earlier in August, in a video for SB Nation, Russell "imitated" Kobe with a herky-jerky motion that Bryant often uses to evade defenders. The No. 2 overall pick then finished the imitation by chucking up a likely contested, fadeaway jumper.

via GIPHY

Russell might be able to get more shots when Bryant retires -- whenever that may be. But at least he now knows the first rule of Laker basketball: Get the ball to No. 24.

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