The coach of the Lakers does not operate his own social media accounts. He frequently claims he is unaware of criticism over his decisions or the direction of the franchise he shepherds.

But not even Byron Scott has been able to miss the unrest among fans who fear that rookie point guard D’Angelo Russell will be a bust.

“I hear it,” Scott said, “and it’s disappointing.”

Russell is 19 and only four games into his career. But as other rookies have made an immediate impact, critics have questioned whether the Lakers made the wrong choice in the draft.

“I’m hoping it doesn’t affect him,” Scott said after a practice earlier this week, “but I can also look at him and say, ‘I don’t know why it wouldn’t.’”

The Lakers (0-4) play at Brooklyn (0-5) on Friday, presenting the Lakers’ best chance for a win and, perhaps, the best opportunity for Russell to have a breakout game.

Russell’s first week of the regular season was fraught with frustration. He has been outperformed in three of the four games by other lottery picks.

Those around the Lakers regularly discuss the steep learning curve Russell faces in orchestrating an NBA offense, playing at a faster pace than ever before and against better opponents.

Recognizing this, Kobe Bryant told Russell to show up early to the team’s morning shootaround Sunday. The two sat and watched film for an hour, Bryant pointing out situations when Russell didn’t make the proper play, and offering insight on how to run the team.

“Ever since that meeting I feel better already, just as far as running the team,” Russell said.

Scott said that impromptu film session said as much about Bryant as it did about Russell.

“He knows that he has to pass the torch one of these days,” Scott said, “and he knows one of his biggest advantages to a lot of these guys is experience and giving them any bits and pieces that he can is going to be a gigantic help to them.”

While Scott said Bryant initiated that film session, Russell has aggressively pursued the input of his teammates.

“He’s texting us, calling us,” Clarkson said. “I know he texts Bean (Bryant). I know he’s talking to me all the time asking me what I like, what I don’t like. I definitely like how he’s learning so quick.”

After Clarkson tied his career high with 30 points on Tuesday, he credited Russell for “making that (stuff) easy” for him.

“With Jordan,” Russell said, “I know how he scores. I know how he wants to score, I know the best time to put him in the position to give him the ball. … I just try to give him the ball when the defense isn’t expecting it.”

It’s been easy fodder to scrutinize how the Lakers are choosing to develop Russell, especially as Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns are both off to strong starts with their respective teams.

Russell is averaging 8.5 points and just 2.5 assists while shooting a paltry 34.1 percent from the field. Scott preaches patience.

“He’s learning,” Scott said. “I wouldn’t say ‘struggling.’ He’s learning, and that’s what people got to understand, that this is a 19-year-old kid.

“Even I sit back at times and say, ‘Wait a minute guys, he’s 19. We got to cut him some slack, this is all new to him.’ But fans and people they don’t understand that.”

The expectations were set high not only with Russell’s draft position, but on draft night when Scott likened him to Magic Johnson.

He isn’t backing down from that, even as many others doubt the comparison.

“He really wants to be great,” Scott said. “He really does. He wants to work, he wants to find out where guys like the ball. Magic was the same way, as far as he hits you with one pass and pretty much figures out, ‘Oh, OK, I know where you like it now.’ That’s just how good he was.”

That, Scott said, is what Russell is trying to achieve by maintaining an open dialogue with teammates.

“He wants to know the best spot to get them the ball just so they can be effective,” he said.

Scott said earlier this week that the Lakers have only given Russell about 30 percent of the team’s playbook.

“I don’t want to throw it all at him,” Scott said. “I think that would be doing him a disservice. So I’m going to keep giving him bits and pieces, on the court as well as off the court.”

As for the chatter about Russell being a bust, Scott said he believes the Lakers can keep Russell from starting to believe it.

“He has enough people in his ear,” Scott said, “including us here, that are telling him, ‘Don’t worry about that.’”

Contact the writer: boram@ocregister.com

SLOW START

Here are game-by-game stats for Lakers rookie D’Angelo Russell through four games: