Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell’s career arc has been memorable.
D’Angelo Russell Reveals Extent of LeBron James’ Influence
Drafted second overall out of Ohio State, Russell became one of Hall of Fame wing Kobe Bryant’s sidekicks at 19. Bryant, then 37, had shifted to small forward as he relied more on his strength and technical mastery than explosiveness to dominate. It was also his retirement tour season, the wear and tear of five title runs finally taking their toll.
Russell would only last a year longer in L.A., traded once he lost his teammates’ trust.
Second Time’s the Charm
After his move to the Brooklyn Nets, Russell began to come into his own as a player. He earned his first All-Star selection in his second season with the team but found himself traded again. With the Nets smelling blood in the water, they made a deal for disgruntled Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant. Russell’s subpar play in the 2019 NBA Playoffs likely made the decision easier.
After 33 games with the Warriors, Golden State traded him to the Minnesota Timberwolves, needing a wing who could offer the two-way impact Durant provided. Russell’s time with the Timberwolves lasted a bit longer. However, they also felt they needed a different dynamic than he provided. In trading Russell to the point guard-hungry Lakers, the Timberwolves acquired Mike Conley, their desired floor general.
Now back in L.A., Russell is fighting trade rumors left and right. His best weapon during these battles is a fireworks display, lighting up the scoreboard in a way the Lakers desperately need. In being traded back to L.A., he’s also able to get the ear of longtime idol LeBron James.
James is one of the best role models that the league has seen. Many people think of him as a businessman if not a basketball player. But before all else, he’s a family man who seeks to represent himself and his bloodline in the best way possible.
Learning from LeBron
In an interview with HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Russell revealed the extent of James’ influence on him during his second stint with the Lakers.
“I played with Kobe on his way out,” Russell begins, “and (now) I’m playing with LeBron, who I still think is at the tip of his prime.”
“Not his prime, but you get better the older you get in some cases. I feel like he’s still getting better in the sense of having to do more with less athleticism, obviously. It shows every aspect of his game, his shooting and post game.”
“Growing up a fan of LeBron,” Russell says, “I was always searching for wisdom from him, asking him questions and trying to pick his brain on how I could be better.”
“When it comes to the basketball side of things, it’s an adjustment,” the 28-year-old explains. “You’ve got to learn how to play next to one of the greatest of all time. As far as what I’ve learned… those small little windows where there’s nothing else going on (are) when I feel like I benefit the most from him. I get to hear about how he did what he was thinking and his approach.”
The influence is beginning to rub off on Russell, who says: “It’s almost like you go through your daily routine and ask, “What would LeBron do?”
“When you have your stuff in order off the floor, it allows you to have this attack mode and mentality on the floor, knowing that everything else is taken care of.”
“You know he’s going to take the high road,” Russell explains, “and do the best that you can do with whatever he’s doing. He’s a complete role model all around.”
It’s this last tidbit that’s perhaps the most crucial when it comes to Russell.
The combo guard recently took a shot at a former teammate in the media. The standalone comments received a lot of attention because of the timing. However, Russell had expressed his displeasure with his role with the Lakers for months. The comments started to be unseemly for the microwave scorer. As he gets older, he’ll learn to react to adversity better. Nonetheless, it shows Russell still has a bit of immaturity to grow out of.
James doesn’t have a spotless record with how he’s represented himself. After losing to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals, he unleashed a classist and elitist tirade. It was unbecoming of him as a leader and role model and of his humble beginnings. His emotions got the best of him.
However, learning is an ongoing process. Just as Russell is learning, James learns. He’s just further along than Russell.
Time, as they say, is the best teacher.
Kobe Bryant’s Wisdom
“The language [Kobe] spoke was foreign to me at that time,” Russell says of his first stint with the Lakers. “I couldn’t relate to a lot of stuff that he was saying, but he would always talk to me about it as if I knew.”
“The older I got,” Russell muses, “the stuff would click, and I’d say, “Dang, I remember him saying that.”
