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Julius Randle Says He Wants To Be Next Kobe Bryant

By Bryan Rose

October 19, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts with forward Julius Randle (30) after a foul is drawn against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
October 19, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts with forward Julius Randle (30) after a foul is drawn against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Los Angeles Lakers rookie Julius Randle says he wants to become the next Kobe Bryant, not the next Shaq.

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It’s been a preseason marred with positives and negatives for Los Angeles Lakers rookie Julius Randle, though at just 19-years-old, bumps in the road were expected.

Still, the former Kentucky talent has shown flashes of potential stardom and understandably fans of the franchise are excited as the prospects of their youngest talent.

For what it’s worth, Julius Randle has already stated he believes he’ll bring home the 2014-15 NBA Rookie of the Year award but that’s just the tip of what he plans to do in the league. In fact, Randle says he wants to become the next Kobe Bryant.

“People used to tell me I’m going to be the next Shaq,” said Randle. “I said, ‘I don’t want to be the next Shaq. I want to be Kobe.’ I always dribbled the ball everywhere I went.”

Obviously due to Randle’s size the suggestion of being the next Shaquille O’Neal was brought up, though he doesn’t really have the strength or frame of Shaq to ever be such. What Julius Randle does have however is a unique skill set that most ‘big men’ don’t possess.

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott has even suggested using Julius Randle at the small forward position occasionally this season which says all you need to know about his talent level at just 19-years-old.

Granted, lusting over the idea of becoming the next Kobe Bryant might be a little ambitious though I’m sure the Black Mamba got quite a chuckle out of the comment given how hard he’s been on the rookie.

Regardless of Julius Randle’s out-of-this-world aspirations, there’s no doubt he can become a fixture with the Los Angeles Lakers franchise moving forward if he’s to fulfill his potential.

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