After the Kobe Bryant farewell tour, the 2016-17 Lakers have turned over a new page. With D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle and Brandon Ingram, the Lakers have one of the most promising young cores in the league. After losing eight in a row, this team might not make the playoffs this season, but for the first time in several years, things are looking up in Los Angeles. We caught up with D’Angelo Russell earlier this month to talk about his sophomore season so far.

GQ: You seem to really embrace the showman side of playing in Los Angeles, playing to the crowd and such.

D'Angelo Russell: It’s great. The Lakers fanbase is enormous. Getting the fans on our side is a huge advantage for us.

Where did the "ice in my veins" celebration come from?

It’s something my dad said growing up. He always said you have to be prepared for big moments, you gotta have ice in your veins. You have to have no feelings. You have to go out there and play your hardest and do what you do. That was the celebration what I performed well and knowing he prepared me mentally.

At what age did you start embracing those big moments.

I would say around 15.

You seemed amused recently that Nick Young borrowed your celebration after hitting a go-ahead three.

Yeah. I feel like it’s a new wave. A lot of people in different sports are running with it. I feel like I get recognized every time someone does that. It’s always good to be a trendsetter.

When did you first pull out that celebration?

There’s footage of me doing it in high school. I think we were playing on ESPN for the national tournament. I hit some clutch free throws and did it. I’ve always been running with that.

Who’s the best dressed Laker?

We have so many guys that are capable. I don’t want to give anyone that stamp. Jordan [Clarkson] does his thing. Nick [Young] does his thing. I do my thing. Julius [Randle] does his thing.

Clarkson really made a statement with his swag kilt recently. Would you be up for wearing something like that?

Nah, that ain’t me. That’s not my wave.

What is your wave?

There’s no description. It just depends on how I feel. But that definitely wasn’t my wave.

What was your style like back in the day in high school.

I didn’t have a style. I didn’t really care. I just wore what I had. I wasn’t really a fashionable guy in high school.