EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- There's no denying Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant is the elder statesman of the roster, setting an NBA record with his 20th season with one franchise on Wednesday night. But rather than reflect back, the five-time champion saw a lot to look forward to after Game 1 of the 2015-16 season was in the books.

"I mean, we played well," Bryant said at practice on Thursday, a day after the Lakers lost 112-111 to the Minnesota Timberwolves. "Defensively, we were very active. We did a pretty good job for the most part getting back in transition. We have some good size -- guys that can defend multiple positions. Looked good."

D'Angelo Russell, the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NBA draft, struggled in his pro debut, logging just four points and two assists, but coach Byron Scott opted to move Russell from off guard to point guard in the Lakers' practice on Thursday. And Bryant seemed to agree with the change.

"[Jordan Clarkson] is a great attack player. So on the backside I think that's probably more useful. D'Angelo, he loves organizing the game, he's a great playmaker, facilitator. That's where he's best suited. So have him handle the ball, have JC attack."

The other youngster who caught Bryant's attention? Second-year forward Julius Randle and the intensity he showed against Kevin Garnett.

"It was great. I knew they were going to get into it," Bryant said.

"Before the game he was talking to me. I knew. I know KG and KG loves testing young guys. He loves to do that just to see what they're made of. ... [Randle] responded like a grown-ass man. I think KG has a lot of respect for him because of it."

Bryant acknowledges there's still a lot of progress to be made, chiefly with himself. Bryant was 8-of-24 from the field (3-of-13 from deep) in the home opener and admitted the long layoff disrupted his feel.

"A lot of it's timing," said Bryant, who played just 35 games in 2014-15 and only six games the season before that.

"Man, I haven't played in so long. Getting the rhythm down a little bit. But 13's a lot of 3s, but everybody bitches when I don't shoot enough 3s. But, you know, a lot of players shoot 15, 13 3s ... I just have a different standard than everybody else."

But just because the longest-tenured Laker is regaining his on-court balance doesn't mean he's ceded anything in terms of leading the team. When asked when he became the authority of everything, Bryant responded, "From the moment I was born. I state my opinion. And if you like it, great. If you don't, don't care."