Lakers rookie D’Angelo Russell bothered by bruised foot

Kobe Bryant at age 37 looked like Kobe Bryant at age 27, scoring on his trademark fadeaway from the post, converting an up-and-under move in the lane and even dunking during a Lakers scrimmage Thursday.

It became secondary when D’Angelo Russell limped off the court at the end of practice. The rookie was playing despite a bone bruise in the bottom of his right foot but couldn’t hide how much his foot was hurting.

Russell tried to downplay the soreness and semi-jokingly knocked an iPhone out of Roy Hibbert’s hands when Hibbert tried to snap a picture of the foot.

Russell, though, had a pertinent question for a Lakers employee who told him it was time to talk to reporters.

“Do I have to stand up?” he said.

He didn’t. He sat in a padded chair as media members circled around him at the University of Hawaii.

Russell said he needed to ice the foot more often after practices. The second overall draft pick simply isn’t used to this type of activity.

“It’s like when I stop, it tightens up,” Russell said. “It’s just a bruise. It’s all good. We’ll figure out some different ways around it.”

The Lakers considered holding Russell out of the evening session, but he wound up taking part.

Russell and Jordan Clarkson seemed to take turns with Bryant in high-screen situations, unusual because one of the guards would set a pick for Bryant instead of a big man. There were also some give-and-go plays between Bryant and Russell.

Bryant again played small forward, finding plenty of time to post up. On one play, he took a pass from Clarkson on the right block, backed down toward the basket and scored with his fadeaway.

“In my mind, that’s his hot spots,” Coach Byron Scott said.

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Bryant did not talk to reporters Thursday but expressed confidence in his game the first two days of training camp.

He played only 41 games the last two seasons and was now experiencing a position change of sorts, moving from shooting guard.

“I know it’s going to be challenging for him, but Kobe’s still the greatest,” said forward Nick Young, who often guarded Bryant on Thursday. “He’s going to be able to adapt to any situation. “He didn’t play the last two years, pretty much.

“This is good for him, this challenge.”

Bryant has periodically played small forward throughout his 20-year NBA career.

Speaking of footwork ...

It was a natural move for the Lakers with so many young post players, let alone Hibbert, a veteran known more for his defense than offense.

The team hired James Worthy as a consultant, a “footwork specialist,” the Hall of Fame forward said with a smile.

He is active at training camp, trying to pass on the litany of post moves he employed as a player.

“The spin move was a natural for me. I was quick,” he said. “But basically what I’m teaching is the basic mid-post drop steps and variations of that.”

Worthy learned a lot of his footwork at the legendary Pete Newell camp after a suggestion from former Lakers executive Jerry West.

“He realized I was using my athleticism too much. I used to back people down and turn into them — Robert Parrish, Manute Bol and those guys,” Worthy said. “[West] wanted me to face the bucket, and that’s how I got into the theory and science of it. I’m just trying to bring that to some of the guys.”

Worthy plans to be present at the team’s training facility two or three times a week during the regular season.

He will continue his job as an analyst for TWC SportsNet, bringing up an interesting point: Can he work with Lakers players and yet potentially criticize them on TV?

“I was talking to some guys and said, ‘Look, I’m not going to kill you [on the air] on a Tuesday and then come try to work with you on Wednesday.’ But I will be constructive,” Worthy said.

Twitter: @Mike_Bresnahan

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