Through the first eight games of the 2024-25 regular season, D'Angelo Russell looked the part of a player who was destined to be traded. Much of it was beyond his control, but rumors have been swirling for months that the Los Angeles Lakers were considering a move—and his play wasn't doing him any favors.
Since becoming the Lakers' sixth man, however, Russell has become one of the most indispensable players on the roster.
Russell was moved to the second unit on Nov. 8 for a clash with the Philadelphia 76ers. The decision was made directly after he was benched during the 131-114 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies that capped off a five-game road trip, during which Los Angeles went 1-4.
In the five games since, Russell has transformed the quality of the second unit and helped Los Angeles go on a five-game winning streak.
Most will overlook that fact and instead point to the remarkable play from the likes of Anthony Davis, LeBron James, and breakout rookie Dalton Knecht. All deserve their share of the praise, but Russell's importance to team success shouldn't be downplayed.
Russell has been selfless, efficient, and downright invaluable to the Lakers recovering from a dreadful stretch and becoming one of the hottest teams in the NBA.
D'Angelo Russell has transformed Lakers' second unit, overall trajectory
In five games as a reserve, Russell has accumulated averages of 12.2 points, 3.4 assists, 1.0 steal, and 2.0 three-point field goals made in just 24.7 minutes per game. He's shot 46.0 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 83.3 percent at the free throw line.
During that time, the Lakers have outscored opponents by an absurd 19.9 points per 100 possessions with Russell on the court—and have been outscored by 5.4 without him.
For those wondering if that's an exaggeration of the norm or an outright anomaly, it's the former. The Lakers are posting their best net rating as a team when Russell is on the court at plus-8.2, and have tallied their worst without him at minus-13.2.
Russell's value has been consistently positive throughout the season, but his move to the second unit has put him and the team in the best possible position to succeed.
In the eight games leading up to Russell's move to the second unit, the Lakers' bench was averaging 20.6 points per game—No. 29 in the NBA at that time. Since the move was made, Los Angeles' reserves are contributing 29.6 points per game—a massive increase of 9.0.
Russell has played a significant role in that success, both with his individual scoring and the unavoidable fact that he's one of the few reserves who can consistently create their own offense.
Beyond the scoring numbers, Los Angeles' second unit is No. 3 in the NBA in net rating at plus-8.7 since Russell joined the ranks. Prior to the move, the Lakers' bench was No. 25 in that same statistic at minus-3.6—good for a swing of 12.3 points per 100 possessions.
The Lakers' stars and starters will continue to be the driving force behind their success, but thanks to Russell, the second unit is no longer a weakness they must overcome from within.
