Los Angeles Lakers

Lakers' Russell honored by comparisons to Magic

Published Jun. 29, 2015 5:29 p.m. ET

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D'Angelo Russell is loading.

On Twitter, he's loading. On Instagram, he's loading. In life, he's loading.

It's an intricate process akin to powering up a computer.

The hard drive checks to make sure all of the programs are up and running properly.

As the Lakers' top pick in the 2015 NBA Draft was introduced at the team's facility Monday, he explained some of that process as it relates to him.

"It's something that I try to take upon myself with my whole career," Russell said. "When you look at the word loading, it's something that you have to be patient for, and when you're trying to get something you want, it's loading. It's a process. That's just with my whole career. It's something that I've been loading, waiting for this day, for me to get drafted, and for me to be here at an NBA team and solidify myself."

Although he's reached this particular set of goals, the former Ohio State Buckeyes point guard is far from a finished product. 

"I'm not loaded," he said. "I'm still loading. I'm setting new goals for myself."

While the 19-year-old says he's executed a great deal of patience to get to this point, the fans of the organization that drafted him haven't developed a reputation for exercising a lot of it themselves.

Setting franchise marks for the most losses in a season in consecutive years hasn't exactly sat too well in Los Angeles. 

The expectation is that the Lakers will once again be competing for championships and that it will be Russell who'll be helping them get there. Further reason for fans to become even more enamored of Russell, and for the expectations to be even higher, is Lakers head coach Byron Scott comparing the newest Laker to a former teammate of his -- Earvin "Magic" Johnson. 

Johnson was the face of the Showtime Lakers; he played in nine NBA Finals and won five of them. 

Russell's heard the comparison. His flair for making magical passes lends itself to such comparisons, but it's far from his focus. 

"He's a great," Russell said Johnson. "I'm honest with myself. I'm not the basketball player (that) he is. It's something that I'm working to become. For (Byron Scott) to say that, I know he sees the potential, but I can't get too high off that.

"I really want to be known for working hard and let the Showtime come along. These guys aren't used to losing. This is one of the most winningest franchises ever. The Showtime usually comes with winning. When we can win games and then bring that (as well), that's when it will start being fun."

Fun for the Lakers and their fans is winning championships. The franchise has been stuck on 16 championships for five years. The Lakers are hoping Russell can lead them to No. 17 and beyond.

The process is just getting underway but, for now, Russell is still loading.

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