A lot is riding on Friday's clash between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves in terms of both teams' playoff aspirations. For D'Angelo Russell, it's a chance to rekindle an old flame as he returns to Minnesota for the first time since his mid-season blockbuster trade to the Lakers. At this point, however, D-Lo isn't stoking the fire.
Russell actually isn't buying in on the revenge narrative. The 27-year-old revealed his mindset ahead of Friday's clash, as well as the one thing he intends to keep his focus on throughout the game:
“For me, honestly, just trying to play the right way,” Russell said. “Everybody wants to see me get out of character and try to dos something crazy. I really just want to win, honestly.”
"I just want to win." @Dloading spoke pregame with @LakersReporter about his return to Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/fdAcUB4eM3
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) April 1, 2023
That's exactly what Lakers fans want to hear right now. D'Angelo Russell has clearly matured from his first stint in LA many years ago, and at this point, he's learned how to drown out all the noise. For D-Lo, everything else has become secondary to the main goal — winning.
The Lakers will want to do just that on Friday with the Timberwolves currently just a half-game ahead of them in the standings. It goes without saying that a win for either team will go a long way in terms of securing their place in the Play-In tournament, and perhaps even sneaking through the Top 6 in the West for a guaranteed playoff spot. You can be sure that this is what D'Angelo Russell will have on his mind when he takes the court on his old stomping ground.
Follow Us
Subscribe