D’Angelo Russell is stepping into his Mavericks chapter with the backing of one of the game’s biggest voices. At media day, Anthony Davis defended his former Lakers teammate, saying Russell turned down more money elsewhere to bet on himself in Dallas, and insisted the guard is motivated to prove he’s a winner.
“D-Lo pushes the pace, he can score, and he’s vocal,” Davis said, via Dallas Hoops Journal. “There’s a narrative that he’s not a winner, but I’ve been close to him and I know that’s not true. We talked before he came here — he told me he was ready. He had other opportunities for more money, but he wanted to be here and bet on himself. We’re getting a motivated D-Lo who will give everything every night. And if he doesn’t, I’ll be on him.”
Much has changed for the Mavericks since their Finals run in 2024. Back then, they were being led by Luka Doncic and everything was built around him. After changing ownership hands, however, the Mavericks gave up on Luka and instead pursued a more veteran, win-now roster led by Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and Kyrie Irving. Over the summer, they also signed D’Angelo Russell who will serve as a fill-in for Irving until he recovers from his ACL injury.
“I’ve had limited structure in my career,” said Russell. “To get to an organization that has…full on structure from the youth, from the coaches, from the veterans, to plug me into something like that. I like my odds, too.”
Russell, 29, is a 10-year NBA veteran who averaged 12.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game last season. Over stints with the Lakers, Nets, Warriors, and Timberwolves, Russell has achieved varying degrees of success but his career was on a downward spiral before signing with the Mavericks this summer.
Dealing with accusations of poor effort and work ethic, Russell has earned a reputation for being “selfish” athlete but the Mavericks are certain that he’s the right fit. As a former All-Star and starting guard, Russell has the talent to stuff the stat sheet at point and if he’s fully locked in, it could help the Mavericks reach a higher level in the Western Conference standings.
Under head coach Jason Kidd, Russell is going to be held accountable but he’s also going to be given the freedom and confidence to make his own decisions on the court. Most importantly, as a team committed to playing together, the Mavericks are set on bringing the best out of each other, and that means empowering Russell to be the best version of himself.
Besides Kidd’s influence, Russell has other powerful resources at his disposal to change the trajectory of his career. He can follow the example set by legends like Klay Thompson and Anthony Davis while players like Cooper Flagg help give him options on the court. If that’s not enough, he can use the allure of a championship to empower a career year in the NBA.
In light of the Luka Doncic trade, much has changed for the Mavericks and they are under more pressure than ever to succeed. While they lack a top-five NBA player, they have enough in terms of star power and depth to keep up with any team in the league. Now, if the Mavericks can stay healthy and maximize their chemistry, it will put them in a position to thrive in the standings and validate the controversial Doncic trade.
D’Angelo Russell has a lot to prove in Dallas, but with Anthony Davis in his corner and a motivated roster around him, the Mavericks are betting this gamble pays off. If Russell can silence the critics and play with the confidence AD says he’s bringing, he could turn what looks like a stopgap role into a career-defining stretch. Dallas doesn’t need him to be Luka Doncic, they just need him to buy in, push the pace, and remind everyone why he was an All-Star in the first place.
