Weaknesses
When watching Russell dribble and play on the perimeter, his basketball IQ and ball handling skills are quite evident. So is his lack of explosiveness. The guard does everything in such a smooth and fluid motion that it is easy to gloss over his quickness or lack thereof, but that is perhaps the one flaw in his game he needs to improve upon.
Added weight and strength in his legs would also help with finishing at the rim and his rebounding ability. Where he was able to get rebounds in college due to his wingspan and height, he won’t be able to in the NBA game without a stronger base and jumping ability.
And as smooth as his shot is (AND BOY IT IS), he has a tendency to shoot while falling to the side or putting a side spin on the ball. These are several “weaknesses” of his game, but make no mistake: Russell should and will correct these things on his way to becoming one of the best young guards in the game today.
Next: Potential Fit