Lakers: D'Angelo Russell Discusses Second Stint With Los Angeles
It's only been three games, but newly-returned Los Angeles Lakers point guard D'Angelo Russell has already looked incredibly comfortable and bought-in to his team. Last night, in a 120-102 win against the New Orleans Pelicans, he had perhaps his best game yet since rejoining the Purple and Gold, scoring 21 points while shooting 5-of-12 from the floor, dishing out seven assists, and also notching a rebound and a steal.
During Spectrum SportsNet's postgame show after the win, Russell spoke with former Lakers legends Derek Fisher and Robert Horry, as well as Chris "Geeter" McGee, about his expectations for his return to the team, and how it felt to play at Crypto.com Arena (nee Staples Center) as a Laker for the first time in six years.
"It's so fun honestly to get back into this arena, the excitement," Russell said. "Great group of guys here too, honestly, they welcomed us with open arms. It makes you want to go out there and play for each other. It's super fun."
"Just high, high IQ honestly," Russell said of his new teammate, LeBron James. "You got some skill and you can space the floor, little things like that, it makes the game easier for him."
"I'm not a guy that needs the ball every time to affect the game, so I can still play off the ball and cut, make shots, just to make the game easier for them. That's why I'm here, and that was so fun," Russell reflected on the win over the Pelicans. "Just to play with those guys."
"I'm just ready to approach this with a free mentality and dominate the game every night in front of these fans," Russell said.
Russell was selected with the second pick out of Ohio State University by LA in the 2015 NBA draft, and remained with the club until the summer of 2017, when he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets (where he made his lone All-Star team). The well-traveled 26-year-old has since suited up for the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves.
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