The Los Angeles Lakers protected their home court on Tuesday night, improving to 4-1 at Staples Center and 7-5 overall. In the 125-118 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, Julius Randle recorded his second career triple-double with 17 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, while D'Angelo Russell scored a season-high 32 points to go along with eight rebounds and four assists.
Randle, in particular, has been a "monster," to steal the word Lakers coach Luke Walton used to describe his tough forward earlier in the season. Only three days prior to Tuesday's impressive performance, the former University of Kentucky Wildcat flirted with a triple-double when he finished with 11 rebounds, eight assists and eight points to go along with two steals and two blocks in a win against Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans.
"He's figuring out and I think starting to believe what he can really do in this league," Walton said about Randle following Tuesday's victory.
Lakers rookie Brandon Ingram may be the star of the Lakers for the next decade, but Randle is the backbone of the team. Randle is the edgiest player on the Lakers. The 21-year-old recently got involved in extracurricular activity against Tyson Chandler of the Dallas Mavericks, and the 21-year-old appeared to exchange words with Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins during and after the Lakers' win in the state capital.
Tarik Black, who joined the NBA and the Lakers in the same season as Randle, pointed out that Randle averaged a double-double a season ago. When NBCLA.com asked Black if he could put his finger on what is different with Randle this season, the center responded, "It's just his confidence and comfort on the floor."
Black said, "This season, you're actually seeing comfort with him now. Now, he's getting the ball against Tyson Chandler at the top of the key in a game winning position. Last season, he had one game where he actually got a (technical foul) and got a fine for it. That was just one time. Now, every time, you see, he's actually wanting it. He's coming towards it because he's actually wanting it. That's the big difference maker."
Already, Ingram could be the best defender on the Lakers, but Randle is the fighter on the team. When the Lakers were down by 19 points in Sacramento, Randle dug them out of a hole until the young team completed its biggest comeback of the young season.
"I think the team feeds off of my energy," Randle said after Tuesday's triple-double. "I think it's one of the big things I bring to the game and I can continue to get better at it."
Randle added, "I can get better. I can get a lot better."
