Dallas Basketball

NBA champion dislikes Dallas Mavericks signing D'Angelo Russell

It appears a certain former guard hasn't overcome a personal beef.
Keenan Womack|
Mar 18, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard D'Angelo Russell (1) reacts after a play during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Mar 18, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard D'Angelo Russell (1) reacts after a play during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images | Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

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Dallas Mavericks

After the tumultuous 2024-25 season endured by Mavericks fans and players alike, which featured an ill-advised Luka Doncic trade and a season-ending ACL injury for Kyrie Irving, Dallas signed veteran point guard D'Angelo Russell to a two-year, $13 million contract.

Though last season was not the best for the former Lakers and Nets lead guard, the Mavericks badly needed ball handling and lead initiator minutes, both of which Russell provides. He averaged 12.6 points and 5.1 assists per game last season, but did so inefficiently, shooting just 39% from the field and 31% from three, marking career lows in each category.

READ MORE: Ex-Mavericks GM slams Luka Doncic-Lakers trade

An outspoken media member in Nick "Swaggy P" Young, who has personal beef with Russell stemming back to their days together with the Los Angeles Lakers over an old video in the locker room, was not a fan of the move, putting his own bias into the equation by claiming the Mavericks "are going to lose now" due to the signing.

"Can't have fun. Can't trust a [expletive] in the locker room," he said on Gilbert Arenas' show, not so much illustrating a basketball take as much as showing that he still has hate in his heart for a player still in the league while he sits on the sidelines.

READ MORE: Mavericks guard had interest from Knicks before re-signing in Dallas

The reason for the criticisms isn't basketball related – they are personal. Whether he has a point is somewhat irrelevant because of their history and the fact that Young has yet to let it go.

Whether or not Russell was a perfect signing is not the point, as he fills a need for a Mavericks roster that is short on point guard talent. Considering the flexibility of the contract, it is a good signing for Dallas, regardless of what Swaggy P thinks.

READ MORE: New Report on Chris Paul's interest in Dallas Mavericks

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Keenan Womack
KEENAN WOMACK

Keenan Womack is a sportswriter native to Dallas, Texas, who has spent the last 12 years in Austin, the home of his alma mater, the University of Texas. Keenan has covered sports for SB Nation, Bleacher Report, Rivals/Orangebloods, a host of his own sites and now, Fan Nation. Focusing on basketball, Keenan was on the beat for the Longhorns hoops team for the last two-and-a-half years before moving on to pursue other opportunities. He is married and lives with his wife close to the Moody Center, so they can continue to catch games together.

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