On February 9th, 2023, a midseason trade sent D’Angelo Russell from the eighth-place Timberwolves to the 13th-place Lakers, the franchise that initially drafted him second overall in 2015. Russell helped Los Angeles climb to seventh place in the Western Conference standings during the final two months of the 2022-23 season, but the Western Conference Finals concluded with a controversial coaching decision in a matchup with the Denver Nuggets.
Was Russell Benched For Favoritism or Poor Performance
In Game 6 of the first round against the Memphis Grizzlies, Russell showcased his scoring ability with a 31-point performance, shooting an impressive 12-for-17 from the field. “I remember Dillon Brooks going from trying to harass LeBron to actually trying to guard me,” Russell said as he continued his scoring streak with 21 points in Game 3 and added 19 points in Game 6 to secure the series win in the second round against the Golden State Warriors.
Russell’s playing time took a hit in the conference finals as he struggled, shooting 8-for-27 in the first three games against the Nuggets. Russell was moved to the bench for the Lakers’ fourth and final game as Denver ultimately swept Los Angeles on their way to becoming NBA champions.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham’s decision to reduce Russell’s role and rely more on veteran guard Dennis Schroder bothered Russell, who had been with the Lakers for only two months and felt the coach’s bias for Schroder led to the benching. Russell spoke on Ham and Schroder’s near-decade spent together with the Atlanta Hawks, where Ham was an assistant coach, saying, “His(Schroder’s) relationship with Darvin is the reason I couldn’t have a relationship with Darvin. When I was struggling, I would’ve been able to come to the coach and say, ‘Bro, this is what we should do. Like, I can help you.’ Instead, there was no dialogue. I just accepted it.”
D’Angelo Russell Resigns In Offseason
Free agent G D’Angelo Russell has agreed on a two-year, $37 million contract to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers, co-heads of @CAA_Basketball Austin Brown and Aaron Mintz along with Antonio Russell tell ESPN. Deal has player option. Lakers secure their starting point guard. pic.twitter.com/ScrZHD7Jio
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2023
Following his benching in the playoffs against Denver, Russell held reservations about recommitting to the Lakers in free agency. As negotiations began league-wide, Dennis Schroder signed with the Toronto Raptors on the opening day of free agency, leading Russell to reconsider his options. Russell inked a two-year, $37 million deal with the Lakers, including a player option for the second season. On Schroder’s departure and the Lakers’ upcoming season, Russell said, “We got swept, and I’m here, and he’s not. And I like our chances.”
Russell Refocuses During Trade Rumors
“WE DONT WANT YOU.”
Hawks fans chant at Dlo during lakers game.pic.twitter.com/677LdnEPvn
— Caesars Sportsbook & Casino (@CaesarsSports) January 31, 2024
Leading up to the trade deadline, D’Angelo Russell found himself at the center of numerous trade rumors. He was connected to the Chicago Bulls regarding Zach LaVine, the Raptors for forward Bruce Brown, and even a potential reunion with Brooklyn as wings Royce O’Neale and Dorian Finney-Smith were both targeted by the Lakers. However, most of the speculation around a possible Russell trade was for Hawks guard Dejounte Murray. The rumor became so widespread that Hawks fans heckled Russell during a game at State Farm Arena.
Amidst the uncertainty about his future, Russell said, “My approach: Care less, do better.” D’Angelo used the wisdom imparted to him as a rookie in 2015-16 by a teammate with the Lakers in his 20th and final season, the legendary Kobe Bryant.
DLo rocking a Kobe shirt at practice today. pic.twitter.com/r5fItXbC73
— Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand) March 12, 2024
Bryant advised Russell to “Create new headlines,” guiding the young guard through the extra pressure of being a Laker. “That stuck with me,” Russell said, learning from Bryant that the best thing to do with external noise is “Don’t care about that. You can’t do nothing. How did you grow from it?”
D’Angelo Russell’s Recent Hot Streak
Since rejoining the starting lineup on January 13th, D’Angelo Russell has been a force on the court, averaging over 22 points per game and 6.4 assists. The biggest factor is his impressive shooting splits: 48% from the field, 46% from beyond the arc, and 85% from the free-throw line. Notably, the Lakers boast an 11-3 record this season when Russell scores at least 25 points.
D’Angelo Russell stepped up, tying his career high with nine 3-pointers last Friday in a game without LeBron James, leading the Lakers to a massive 123-122 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Russell hit a go-ahead floater with 5.9 seconds to play to ice the game, scoring 21 of his season-high 44 points in the fourth. The Lakers hold a respectable 5-4 record in games without LeBron James this season. LeBron-led teams have not had a winning record in games without James since his 2012-13 championship-winning season with the Miami Heat.
DLO PUTS THE LAKERS AHEAD 123-122 WITH 5 SECONDS LEFT IN THE 4Q!
MIL-LAL Live on ESPN pic.twitter.com/ra7xwZCueA
— NBA (@NBA) March 9, 2024
The Laker’s success without LeBron is primarily due to Russell’s contributions, who averages nearly 22 points and over ten assists per game in James’ absence. James told ESPN of Russell’s impact on the Lakers, saying, “I think he has the ability to do whatever the team needs, especially offensively. That’s what is special about him. He can adapt to whatever the game calls for. But when D-Lo is at his best, he’s in attack mode.” Russell looks to continue his excellent play, saying, “Respectfully, my approach is ‘All these people came to see AD, LeBron… but I’m stealing the show,” as the Lakers head to Sacramento on Wednesday, March 13th, to take on the 7th-seeded Kings.
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