D'Angelo Russell has had a slower start to his NBA career than some of his fellow rookies, which he attributes to his situation with the Los Angeles Lakers.

"You can’t worry about their opportunity and what they’re doing with it. Everybody is in different positions. The rookies that are separating themselves are in great positions and are getting it quick. Some people just have a learning process. That’s what I’m doing."

Russell was the second overall pick in the draft.

"The opportunity [here] is just so slim because we’ve got a lot of great players," he said. "Specifically, we’ve got a lot of players trying to do the same thing. You’ve just got to figure out your niche to stay on the floor."

Kobe Bryant sees some parallels with his situation as a rookie and what Russell is facing.

"He’ll have more opportunities and more leeway to make mistakes," Bryant said. "When I came in with the Lakers, it was a team that, we had a lot of talent and everybody expected us to win a championship, and if I go in there and mess up, it’s like, 'strangle the kid.' You know what I mean? There’s a lot more pressure there."