D’Angelo Russell has never been one to shy away from speaking his mind, and in a recent interview with HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, he took some subtle yet pointed shots at the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Now back with the Brooklyn Nets, Russell made it clear that he appreciates the team-oriented culture in Brooklyn—implying that his past teams didn’t exactly prioritize unity in the same way.
“Team. I’ve been on so many different teams where the team’s not a priority. To be here, the team is everything from every aspect you can think of. It’s team-oriented. As a team, we win. As a team, we lose. To be engraved into that and just fit in is a good feeling.”
This statement didn’t go unnoticed, as it appeared to be a thinly veiled dig at his previous stops in the NBA. Russell has played for the Lakers twice, the Warriors, and the Timberwolves—all teams where he had ups and downs, and in some cases, unceremonious exits.
Russell’s most recent stint with the Lakers ended in a December trade that sent him to Brooklyn as part of the Dorian Finney-Smith deal. His second run in Los Angeles was filled with inconsistency, as he had moments of brilliance but also struggled to find a true role alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Despite averaging 18.0 points and 6.3 assists while shooting 41.5% from three last season, the Lakers decided to move on from him.
Russell’s comments suggest he didn’t feel the same team-first mentality in Los Angeles that he is now experiencing in Brooklyn. In a separate interview, Russell admitted that his experience with JJ Redick and the Lakers was difficult, going as far as to say he was “traumatized.”
Russell also seemed to take a shot at the Timberwolves, where he played from 2020 to 2023. Minnesota acquired him to pair with his close friend Karl-Anthony Towns, but their partnership never reached its full potential.
The Wolves eventually decided they were better off with a more defensively minded point guard and traded Russell back to the Lakers at the 2023 trade deadline, bringing in Mike Conley instead. His comments about a lack of team focus could very well be a reflection of his frustrations with how things played out in Minnesota.
Russell’s short-lived tenure with the Golden State Warriors in the 2019-20 season was also rocky. He was brought in as a high-profile acquisition after Kevin Durant left, but his fit alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green was always questionable.
The Warriors shipped him to the Timberwolves after just 33 games in exchange for Andrew Wiggins and a future first-round pick—a move that ended up being a steal for Golden State. Given his remarks about teams that don’t prioritize unity, it’s easy to see how he might not have felt like a true part of the Warriors’ core.
Now in the final year of his two-year, $36 million contract, Russell will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Despite his declining efficiency in Brooklyn—averaging 13.8 points, 5.7 assists, and shooting just 38.9% from the field and 31.9% from three—he is reportedly open to re-signing with the Nets.
However, given his declining numbers, he’s unlikely to command the kind of contract he once did. League sources suggest he may land a two- or three-year deal in the range of $15-18 million annually. The Nets, armed with over $60 million in cap space, could bring him back on a short-term deal if they don’t land a bigger free agent.
Russell has indicated that he’d like to remain in Brooklyn beyond this season.
“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I? I keep seeing stuff coming out. I’ll tell you. Heck yeah. I want to be wherever I’m at. I’m here. I love these guys. I appreciate this, and I would love to be back.”
The Nets’ offseason plans remain uncertain, as they’re likely to prioritize the draft and potential trades for star talent. Brooklyn’s 22-43 record has them in the running for the No. 1 overall pick, with an 8.3% chance at landing Cooper Flagg. If the Nets don’t acquire a major upgrade at point guard, Russell could stick around as a veteran presence.
His future will likely be determined by how he performs down the stretch of the season and whether the Nets see him as part of their rebuilding plans. For now, he’s enjoying his return to Brooklyn and taking a few parting shots at the teams that didn’t fully embrace him along the way.
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