LOS ANGELES — Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell might be the two most important players on the Los Angeles Lakers. Both are young, talented and possess several characteristics that are necessary for success in the modern game.
Both have certainly struggled to find their way as inexperienced, high-volume options. But more important than their individual statistics is how their on-court chemistry connects, which is crucial for a rebuilding team that hopes to have found its backcourt of the future.
Do Russell and Clarkson complement one another? It’s an important question the Lakers’ coaching staff and front office needs to figure out as soon as possible. The good news: The two have recently combined to take a critical step in the right direction.
On Jan. 22, 2006, Bryant scored 81 points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 122-104 victory over the Raptors. Wilt Chamberlain, with his 100-point performance for the Philadelphia Warriors in 1962, is the only player to score more in a single NBA game.
The significance of the achievement isn't lost on Bryant as he traverses his 20th and final NBA season. When he wrote a letter to fans this past November announcing his retirement, the photo behind the text was of him walking off the court after scoring 81 points -- his right arm stretched high with his index finger pointing to the sky. When he introduced the "Channel the Villain/Unleash the Hero" slogan for his final season with an online video, the opening scene featured him scoring his 81st point at the free throw line.
"It's really a testament to the power of imagination, honestly," Bryant told ESPN.com earlier...
