Los Angeles Lakers coach Luke Walton has openly said that his team needs that ''one alpha'' on the roster. The Lakers are a young team, which has some really talented players, but they're lacking star players on their roster. The team was active on the market last summer, but they have failed yet again to add a Star Player to the team.
The Lakers have hit a bad stretch
The Los Angeles Lakers are on a three-game losing streak and have dropped 14 of 17 matches played since the beginning of February, reveals ESPN. Since it's clear that the Lakers won't be making this year's postseason, the franchise has decided to give more time to its young core.
The core is learning and getting much needed experience. Not having a true leader out there has been one of the problems during this stretch.
D'Angelo Russell could become just that
The second overall pick of the 2015 NBA draft, D'Angelo Russell, has shown some leadership signs so far in his career. However, the 21-year-old point guard has had his inconsistencies and has yet to fulfill his full potential. On the season, Russell has been averaging 14.9 points and 4.8 assists per game for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Coach Walton was honest
''You know, we have guys that care -- and guys that wanna win -- and play hard -- and play the right way,'' Los Angeles Lakers coach Luke Walton told reporters, in an interview which can be found on the Lakers Nation YouTube Channel.
''But, you know, when things are going bad for us, when other teams get hot or we start missing shots or turning the ball over...we still don't have that, you know, that one player to step up and kind of calm us down and get us on track and make sure that that run doesn't go on too long.
''You know, we kind of just fall into the trap 'I'm gonna do it by myself, I'm gonna do it by myself,' and then bad just gets worse. So, you know, that's a challenge to the guys individually and as a group because we don't have that one alpha yet or that one All Star type of guy to really calm us down when adversity hits."