D’Angelo Russell may not be among the 77 past and present NBA players playing for their respective national teams in the Paris Olympics.
However, the Los Angeles Lakers star still went to France mainly to cheer on his teammates, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who are with Team USA.
Russell was in attendance at the Decathlon Arena in Villeneuve D’Ascq, a city north of Paris, to watch James, Davis, and the rest of the Americans in action against Serbia, led by reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, on Sunday night.
A fan took a video of D’Angelo Russell celebrating after Davis converted what seemed like a dunk despite a foul from a Serbian player and posted it on his X account.
This is PEAK teammate of D’Lo to travel across the world to support his boys 🤞💯
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) July 28, 2024
Keen observers, though, were quick to notice the six-foot-four guard’s new hairstyle while watching the video.
For probably the first time in his professional career, Russell dyed his hair blonde while sporting some dreadlocks.
The number two pick of the 2015 NBA Draft returned to his hotel room a happy man, as his fellow Lakers contributed significantly to Team USA’s 110-84 victory against Serbia.
LeBron James, Anthony Davis impress in front of D’Angelo Russell
With teammate Russell watching, James and Davis played decently in Team USA’s blowout win to begin their quest for their 17th Olympic men’s 5-on-5 basketball gold.
James, making his Olympic comeback after 12 years, put up 21 points on 9-for-13 shooting, seven rebounds, nine assists, and one steal.
“That’s the best game we’ve played so far,” James said after the blowout, which was a far cry from how most of their tune-up games leading to the Paris Olympics went.
Davis, on the other hand, made seven points, eight rebounds, one assist, and one steal off the bench.
The night belonged to Kevin Durant, who went 8-for-8 from the field in the first half and still led Team USA in scoring despite limited second-half minutes with 23 points alongside two rebounds.
“KD was unbelievable in the first half and gave us a huge boost, and our defense in the second half opened the game up,” said Steph Curry, who became teammates again with Durant since the latter left the Golden State Warriors after the 2018-2019 season.
The difference was the nine minutes and 15 seconds basketball-wise of rest for Jokic. With the MVP sitting on the bench, the Americans quickly found a way to obliterate the Serbians.
Jokic righted the ship for Serbia when he was on the floor, but Team USA would just match Serbia’s output with him around.
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