D’Angelo Russell Thinks He Deserves More Credit For How He Played With The Lakers Last Season

D'Angelo Russell thinks he hasn't gotten the credit he deserves for the improvements in his game last season.

3 Min Read

Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

• D’Angelo Russell thinks the improvements in his game have gone unnoticed

• He cited his improved shooting efficiency on Patrick Beverley’s podcast 

• Russell re-signed with the Lakers for two years, $37 million after a tough postseason 

D’Angelo Russell was crucial for the Lakers when they were making their run from the 11th seed in the West to the seventh seed to secure a playoff berth. 

Due to the bad taste of Russell’s playoff performances left, he has received a lot of criticism. The former All-Star thinks the improvements in his game went unnoticed last season.

(Starts at 1:05:54)

“They ain’t talking about it, Pat! The f**k I gotta do, Pat? You want me to play point guard, I played point guard. You want me to play shooting guard, what do y’all want from me, man? I’m going 40 for three, what y’all want man?”

Russell did have a strong regular season over the Wolves and Lakers, averaging 17.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 6.2 assists on 39.6% three-point efficiency. 

The reason people are ignoring that is that he couldn’t replicate it in the playoffs, averaging 6.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists on 32.3% shooting from the field in the Lakers’ Conference Finals sweep loss to the Denver Nuggets.


Lakers Keeping Their Core Intact

Outside of fringe rotational players, the Lakers brought back most of their high-value players this season. This includes D’Lo, along with Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves. Keeping these pieces and adding solid rotational depth around them with Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish, and Jaxson Hayes is great work by Rob Pelinka.

If Russell wants more people to recognize the growth in his game, he’ll have to prioritize being a better defensive threat for the roster. In addition, he also needs to find ways to find consistency and be a reliable 15-point scorer for the Lakers at the minimum.

With LeBron James and Anthony Davis motivated to make the most of next season, one which could see both players leave the franchise at the end of it, this Lakers roster will be a threat to contend atop the Western Conference.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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