D'Angelo Russell wasn't familiar with the triangle a few weeks ago, but he studied it during a film session with Phil Jackson this month.

"Now that I look at it, Kobe had great success in it. The shots that he took, the shots that he made were in the same areas, all from the offense. So I think I can definitely thrive there," Russell said in a phone interview on Friday.

 

Russell is expected to be a top-3 selection in Thursday's draft.

"It was great, just to be in the Mecca," Russell said of the Knicks workout. "It was my second workout. Just being in New York was a great feeling and getting the opportunity to work out for one of most well-known teams in the NBA was just a blessing."

Russell said he met with Jackson and Knicks coach Derek Fisher during the workout.

"They did a great job of opening the doors for me and letting me ask anything I needed," Russell said. "I asked them what’s one thing I can do to separate myself and they gave me some great knowledge on that. They’ve seen the greatest of the greats come through this league. So they know what it takes."