D’Angelo Russell has been getting a lot of attention lately as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Since this is the last season of his contract, his name has popped up in trade talks multiple times.
Now that JJ Redick is the new head coach, fans are really wondering how he’s going to amp up the offense with Russell. Even with all the trade chatter, Russell, who totally crushed it last season, is going to be super important for Redick’s plans for the team.
On The Lowe Post with Zach Lowe, Redick settled trade talk by saying that Russell is set to be a starter for the Lakers in 2024-25. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin on X, he expressed his high expectations for the point guard this season.
The report on Twitter stated, “JJ Redick says he has spoken to D’Angelo Russell probably more than any other Lakers player since he got the job and his message to the guard has been: ‘Let’s put you in position to have a career year.”
Russell could still be traded by the Lakers, but being named a starter makes it more likely that he will stay in Los Angeles. This indicates the franchise wants to assess his performance under Redick before cutting ties with such a talented point guard.
D’Angelo Russell shares what fuels his competitive drive
D’Angelo Russell finally hit his stride as a shooter in January of last year and never looked back, leading to his greatest season to date. He recently discussed what drives his competitive spirit on The Backyard Podcast.
He said, “When I first started, it hurt when I lost and that’s when I knew it was like something. Because nothing else I did, nothing else I felt hurt when I lost. I was just like, what the hell is that? Then in time, I started using it to my advantage, trying to come with a competitive edge before the game even starts and whatever we’re doing. ”
Following a difficult 2023 Western Conference Finals, D’Angelo Russell accepted a salary cut to remain with the Lakers, which seemed to have fueled his passion. As a former Lakers draft selection, he seeks a long-term position in order to compete for titles.
