Once he found his way back to the Lakers in 2023, former All-Star guard D’Angelo Russell celebrated being given a second chance with the franchise. But not even two full seasons after his return, Russell was traded again to another one of his former teams. And for the first time since his move to the Nets, Russell finally spoke up about the latest series of events.
“It’s just like getting traded any time before that. You’ve got to adjust. So it’s been an adjustment for me, learning the players, learning the coaching staff, learning Brooklyn’s new ways,” Russell said, via The New York Post. “A lot’s changed since I’ve been here. So, I’m just trying to adjust and jump right in with these guys. It’s a good feeling, honestly, to go back somewhere you’re comfortable, somewhere you kind of know the ins and outs a little bit. See some familiar faces. It kind of makes the process a little easier to adjust to. So, I’m just grateful for that.”
Russell has changed teams many times over his career and has played for four different franchises. At just 27 years old, he’s been traded five times including twice from the Lakers to the Nets. But despite his ties to the Nets, and deciding to trade him in the past, D’Lo says there were never any hard feelings.
“Honestly, as soon as I left, I was kind of … I understood the business of it because I was going somewhere that laid out an opportunity as well,” Russell said. “So it was no spite, no hard feelings there, nothing to get over.”
As a solid perimeter shooter and backcourt passer, Russell (12.4 points, 4,7 assists, 33.3% 3PT%) had plenty of positive moments for the Lakers. Unfortunately, he wasn’t nearly consistent enough to avoid the chopping block, and head coach JJ Redick was calling him out for poor effort as he slowly diminished his role in the rotation.
With Russell out and replaced with Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton, they filled a need (perimeter defense) while also adding depth at multiple positions. At 7th in the West this season, the Lakers hope this trade will help move them up a few spots in the standings.
Meanwhile, Russell will be playing on a Nets team with little to no expectations. In the wake of Kevin Durant’s departure, the Brooklyn Nets are in rebuilding mode and they are 12th in the East at 12-20. Russell will not make a significant difference for the record.
But with a fresh start and a new opportunity, D’Angelo can work his way back to stardom and possibly return to the All-Star game as he did with the Nets in the 2018-19 season. Now that he’s out from the pressure of Los Angeles, perhaps he can truly lock in to deliver one of his best stretches yet as a pro.
But after so many trades throughout his career, D’Angelo isn’t phased by another move. He’s going to play the same no matter where he goes and he’s already racked up millions after several long-term contracts.
For the Nets, the next game is tonight, against the Toronto Raptors, at 7:30 PM EST at Scotiabank Arena. It’s their last game on the road before heading back home (to Barclays Center) for a game against the Philadephia 76ers on January 4th at 6:00 PM EST. On Monday, January 6th, the Nets will host the Indiana Pacers at 7:30 PM EST.
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