NBA News: Los Angeles Lakers Better Off Without Kobe Bryant? D'Angelo Russell Is Team's New Star

Los Angeles Lakers are making some noise early this season after winning only their first game and D’Angelo Russell is taking all the credit for it while taking some jabs at Kobe Bryant after the game. Russell seems to be the new face of the Lakers under their new coach Luke Walton who is designing the team’s offensive approach more like the Golden State Warriors.

The win against the Houston Rockets seems to be working for the Lakers. According to CBS Sports, Russell implied that individual gain and fame should not be the priority of each player. Their game plan right now is all about playing together as well as making sacrifices for the whole team.

Russel stated that Bryant is deserving of all the attention he has been given for the previous season, but without Bryant around to represent the Lakers, the players felt more "Free" in doing his own thing. “There’s no 'One' leader, no face of the Lakers.” These statements may prove that Russell did not get along very well with the Lakers’ legend last season.

Bryant approached the game with passion and takes over tough games and literally runs the game by himself when no one does. The new and raw talents of the Lakers composed of Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle and rookie Brandon Ingram may have played enough teamwork to pull off their first win of the season, Sportsrageous reported.

Rusell was also keen on comparing the San Antonio team with Los Angeles, noting that everyone in the San Antonio team is "getting the same amount of attention as Tim Duncan", who is also an NBA legend.  He added that the Los Angeles Lakers is now doing the same thing, without Kobe in the picture.

Every team, every player and every coach have different perspective and approach to the game. The NBA and Lakers’ legend Bryant, whom Russell is talking about, won multiple titles, shattered NBA records and earned respect of the fans and fellow players throughout the league.

We are now looking at a new Lakers’ team transitioning its new leadership from an NBA legend to a second year player who has a lot more to prove than just one game. We still have a lot more games to see if the new leader of this franchise can back it up and put the team back to playoff contention.