The Lakers’ latest additions have given new life to the team, and being back in LA has been a breath of fresh air for D’Angelo Russell too.
Speaking to reporters this week, Russell opened up on how much he had enjoyed being a Laker again.
“Honestly, I just kept saying it to the guys, just having that much fun playing basketball, it’s always a beautiful feeling,” Russell said. “Obviously, when LeBron and AD are going like that, it’s easy to follow those guys. So we can only imagine what the future looks like.
“I think it’s just easy for those guys to try to play the right way the majority of the time, [our] two best players are willing passers, selfless out there… So for me, I’ve always wanted to be in that position.
“If I make a cut, I might get the ball but I’m usually the guy making that pass to older guys. Having LeBron out there knowing that he’s capable of doing it, it’s almost like another point guard out there.”
If all goes well, Russell could be sticking around in LA for quite some time too. He’s an unrestricted free agent this summer, but he and the team have mutual interest in a contract extension, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Russell first played for the Lakers as a rookie in 2015-16, which happened to also be Kobe Bryant’s final season. He then played for the Nets, Warriors and Timberwolves, before being traded to LA in a three-team, eight-player trade.
Russell is averaging 17.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists in three games for the Lakers this season so far.
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