Bill Simmons gave a brutally honest take on D’Angelo Russell’s career, using a hilarious analogy to describe the Lakers guard’s impact. On The Bill Simmons Podcast, the media personality compared Russell to a friend who’s fun to hang out with at first but quickly wears out his welcome.
“He’s your buddy that comes to visit and it’s really great when he is only there for one day,” Simmons said. “And by day six, you’re like, ah, I’m ready for him to leave. That’s D-Lo.”
Russell, 29, has struggled to find a permanent NBA home. After getting drafted second overall in 2015, he joined a hopeless Lakers team with no clear direction for the future. After just two seasons, he was traded to the Nets where he made his first and only All-Star appearance. Over the next couple of seasons, he bounced around several times to the Warriors, Timberwolves, and back to the Lakers again in 2022. His latest stint was with the Brooklyn Nets, where he averaged 12.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game on 36.7% shooting.
As a versatile, offensive-minded point guard, D‘Angelo Russell has the skills every team wants and many have already given in to the temptation. Of course, while he’s a capable scorer and shooter, Russell’s lack of focus and passion on the court often limits his effectiveness and it’s why he’s clashed with some coaches of his past. JJ Redick, for example, had to call him out last season for not playing up to his standards.
Overall, his reputation has taken a massive hit over the years and it reflects a history of bad habits and poor decisions for Russell. Once touted as one of the top young prospects in the NBA, he’s been reduced to a role-player who never quite lived up to his potential. Like that “buddy who comes to visit,” Russell has worn out his welcome in almost every stop so far but there’s still time to change the narrative.
Going into the 2025-26 campaign, Russell has been given another fresh start; this time, with the Dallas Mavericks. As Kyrie Irving takes some time to continue his ACL recovery, Russell will step in to fill his role and carry his load. While he may not live up to Irving’s shadow, he can still make an impact as a 10-year veteran and former All-Star.
The key for D’Angelo Russell will be consistency. As a notoriously streaky shooter, the best way for him to prove his worth is by being there night after night to run the offense and hit big shots when needed. Alongside Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and Cooper Flagg, there’s real hope that he can have his best season yet and it may just be enough to push the Mavericks into a higher level of contention.
For D’Angelo Russell, this season in Dallas could be his last real chance to flip the narrative. He’s shown flashes of brilliance throughout his career, but now it’s about proving he can stay consistent and be part of a winning culture. If he can do that, he might finally shake the label that’s followed him for a decade and turn this fresh start into something lasting.
