Once considered to be among the Top 3 prospects in the 2014 NBA Draft, Julius Randle dropped down to the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 7 when the June event rolled around.
Randle was sure to tell those who passed that they would regret it in the end. And, as far as Kobe Bryant is concerned, Randle was put in the perfect position to make those words hold true.
The Lakers are not in a full rebuilt like other teams toward the top of last year's draft, so there are mentors around to help push Randle along through the early stages of his career.
Bryant and Lakers coach Byron Scott are best equipped to help propel Randle to stardom. Given the foundation he has in Los Angeles, Bryant can't see how Randle could possibly screw up. He said that with more colorful language, of course.
Kobe on Julius Randle having him and Byron Scott as mentors: "It means he can't f--- it up. If you f--- this up you're a really big idiot."
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) October 20, 2014