Kobe Bryant has proven to be a hard person to please. That bodes well for Lakers rookie D'Angelo Russell.
Bryant already has taken a liking to the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
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"He has my trust already because he's a gym rat," Bryant told the Daily News. "He loves playing the game. I trust that whatever challenges are presented to him, he'll figure them out."
Bryant has a short list of basketball confidants, including former teammates Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol, along with newly reacquired teammate Metta World Peace.
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"One thing that has always been said about Kobe Bryant is that players have to earn his trust," lakersnation.com reported.
Russell, the point guard out of Ohio State, entered the league as a somewhat controversial pick, considering most pundits and Lakers fans believed that the team was going to select Duke center Jahlil Okafor.
Russell won the team over with his confidence, but his struggles in summer league play created concern that the Lakers may have erred with their selection. Russell averaged 11.8 points per game on 37.5 percent shooting, 3.5 turnovers and 3.5 assists per game over the summer.
Russell asked the team to put his locker next to Kobe's so that the rookie could ask more questions, the Daily News added. Russell is emulating Bryant by showing up early to practices.
"When guys have that same passion and desire for it, it makes you more willing to open up," Bryant said. "When they're here early and shooting late, you can tell when that passion is there and you can tell when they think it's a job."
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