Julius Randle on playing with Kobe Bryant: ‘It’s going to be amazing’

Consider Julius Randle to be a quick learner.

He might have already digested the Lakers’ pecking order, acting deferentially to Kobe Bryant in a conference call with reporters an hour after being drafted with the seventh overall pick Thursday.

“It’s going to be amazing,” Randle said. “He was always my idol, my favorite player growing up and now I have a chance to pick his brain and learn a lot from him. I couldn’t ask for a better situation.”

Bryant wasn’t the only NBA player to come up in Randle’s conference call.

A double-double machine but a bit undersized at 6 feet 9, Randle has been compared with Memphis power forward Zach Randolph.

“I don’t model my game after anybody,” Randle said. “I’ve always relied on being myself and going from there, but I couldn’t be more humbled to be compared to a great player like him.”

Randle made only three of 18 three-point shots in his one season at Kentucky. He didn’t claim to be the next coming of Dirk Nowitzki but didn’t shy away from extending his game beyond middle range.

“I shot the ball really well in the Laker workout and they were really impressed with that,” Randle said. “I think I’ll be able to play all over the floor.”