Throughout the 2023–24 season, there has been a lot of discussion over D’Angelo Russell’s future with the Los Angeles Lakers. Alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Russell, a powerful point guard known for his one-on-one scoring prowess, has contributed to the Lakers’ offensive upswing. In addition, he has been a major factor in the Lakers’ success in the ten games that James has missed this season.
According to StatMuse, in those games without LeBron, the team has a 6-4 record and he has averaged 22.4 points, 10.8 assists, and 5.5 rebounds.Russell has struggled in the past several seasons, especially in the postseason, but he is still focused on turning the Lakers into a legitimate title contender.
Following their double-overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, Los Angeles has now won nine of their previous 13 games and four straight. Against the Bucks, Russell finished with 29 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists on 5-of-12 shooting from three-point range. In this game, he shot a flawless 10-of-10 from the free-throw line.
Russell has consistently maintained the mindset of staying with the Lakers, and he was a hot topic of discussion leading up to the trade deadline. Russell’s attention is still on Los Angeles only a few weeks before the playoffs begin and before an offseason in which he has a player option remaining on his deal.
After selecting Russell second overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Lakers traded him to the Brooklyn Nets in 2017. Timofey Mozgov and Russell were transferred to Brooklyn in exchange for Kyle Kuzma, the 27th overall selection in 2017, Brook Lopez, and the draft rights to him. Russell was compelled to establish himself in the Eastern Conference even though he had no desire to leave Los Angeles.
That’s just what he accomplished, turning into an All-Star with the Nets and establishing himself as one of the league’s best isolation scorers.
Russell was transferred once more, this time to the Minnesota Timberwolves, in a trade deadline transaction that sent Andrew Wiggins to the Golden State Warriors, following a brief stay with the team after being engaged in the Kevin Durant sign-and-trade. Russell’s path came full circle when the Lakers invited him back last season.
Russell now has the possibility of becoming a free agent during the offseason. The 28-year-old received a two-year, $36 million contract from Los Angeles in July, but he also has a $18.6 million player option for the 2024–2025 campaign. Russell’s top aim is to stay in Los Angeles, regardless of whether he chooses to extend his contract or become an unrestricted free agent.”I would really like to be here, to keep pushing it forward, and to be where my feet are right now,” Russell recently said to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
It goes without saying that I have experienced both sides of the roller coaster that is free agency and having to wait. It will be nice not to have to worry about it. With my play, I’ve had the good fortune to place myself in this situation. Without a doubt, I intend to take advantage of that.
“I believe that everything will work out as it should when that time comes.”
As HoopsHype mentioned, Russell has broken the Lakers record for the most threes made in a single season (192 and counting), and he has really
