Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell ended Sunday night’s game with 33 points in 31 minutes.
The Lakers won the game 124-115 over the Denver Nuggets, with Russell building a strong start to the preseason: his edgy play has led him to average 19.3 points on 53.7 percent shooting.
After the game, Russell spoke with Sportsnet’s Mike Trudell about what he has to prove this year.
“Honestly, I got a chip on my shoulder. Preseason doesn’t really count, but it’s a chance to showcase what you can do, and really let guys know that you’re ready this season.”
Last season D'Angelo Russell showed flashes of his potential but had an up and down year for various reasons.
He averaged a modest 13.1 points on 41 percent shooting, but couldn’t stay on the same page as former coach Byron Scott, only to find himself riding the pine at seemingly random times.
New coach Luke Walton has started to change that by developing a relationship with Russell and instilling confidence in him as the team’s leading point guard.
Russell has been given more responsibility to lead the team, and his early play is evidence that what Walton is doing is working.
The regular season is of course much more intense than the preseason, so the jury is still out on how effective D'Angelo Russell will be all year. One thing is for certain: it will certainly be much different than last year.
Follow Us
Subscribe