D’Angelo Russell has gone from zero to hero at the Lakers as he looked to be certain to be traded, but stuck around and proved himself.
Russell’s dip in the 2022-23 postseason was very noticeable and heavily criticized, but since then he has become the go-to guy for shooting and is smashing franchise three-point records.
The guard is averaging 18.2 points and 6.4 assists, while shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 42.3 from three.
Although it looks like he’s found a home in LA, Russell could become a free agent this summer if he chooses.
He signed a two-year deal with the Lakers in the offseason, but the second year has an $18.69 million player option for the 2024-25 season.
If he was to test the market right now, no doubt he would get some legitimate multi-year offers from teams around the league, but it sounds like he wants to stay put.
“I’d love to be here and continue to give it a run and be where my feet are now,” Russell told HoopsHype. “Obviously, I’ve been on the other side of it, and I’ve been through the roller coaster of free agency and having to sit back and wait. I’m looking forward to not having to worry about that. I’ve been blessed enough to put myself in this position with my play. I’m definitely planning on taking advantage of that. When that time comes, I feel that everything will play out how it’s supposed to play out.”
D’Lo spoke about the pressure that comes with playing in a potential contract season.
“It’s definitely pressure,” Russell said. “It’s something that can eat a lot of people up in the league. A lot of people can be too high at times and too low at times, which causes an emotional roller coaster through the ups and downs of the season. For me, I wanted to control that. I wanted to stay sane and stay even-keeled through the ups and the downs.”
No doubt it helps that he is playing career basketball.
READ MORE: How D’Angelo Russell Learns the Most From LeBron James