D'Angelo Russell makes peace with his new role off the bench.
Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell faced a crucial point in his career when head coach JJ Redick moved him to the bench from the starting lineup. At first, D'Angelo says it was hard to adjust, but he has since come to embrace the role as an opportunity to help the Lakers win at any cost.
"Year 9 was last year. You take in there could be a new coach at any point - you can be traded at any point. Going in it, I'm going out with a bang. I'm shooting all my shots, I'm doing how I want to do it," said Russell on "The Backyard Podcast" on Thursday. "Let's do it the right way. If you're going out, go out the right way. It may not be 25 points per game, eight assists per game, having a high usage, but showing a different route. Just a different approach. I’m committed to it, ups and downs."
Russell, 28, has had two separate stints with the Lakers now. The first came after he was drafted in 2015 and he went on to spend the next two seasons in a Lakers jersey. After a series of trades, Russell eventually made his way back to the Lakers in 2023 as part of a mid-season trade with the Timberwolves. Since his arrival, Russell has tried his best to fit in alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis but it hasn't been a great match so far.
After starting the opening games of the season, D'Angelo Russell got kicked out of the starting lineup by JJ Redick, who called him out publicly for playing with a lack of intensity and urgency on the floor. D'Lo has been coming off the bench ever since and there have been concerns about how he might handle it. According to one report, the Lakers thought he could destroy the team chemistry if he resisted his new role.
But despite the concerns, and his reputation for not being a team player, D'Angelo Russell is changing his approach and is actively trying to the needs of the team above his own. He knows what it takes to win and he knows that every player must sacrifice their ego for the pursuit of a title.
This year, Russell has finally accepted his place, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to win. Tonight, against the Spurs, Russell proved useful and effective in his limited role with 13 points, 6 assists, and 2 rebounds on 45.5% shooting. If he can sustain that level of play for the rest of the season it could be exactly what the Lakers need to compete with the best in the West.
Fortunately, with Russell fully bought in, the Lakers don't have to worry about chemistry problems or any potential grudges. With so much at stake, Russell just wants to do his part to help his team win even if it means making room for other young players to shine like Cam Reddish, Austin Reaves, and Dalton Knecht.
