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D'Angelo Russell isn't fussing about his triumphant return to Los Angeles to face his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, short of two years since he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets to create cap room and free up the point guard spot for Lonzo Ball.
The first-time All-Star knows what's at stake and is aware that eyes will be on him upon his return, but he's taking a measured, professional approach to that challenge:
“After any game you’re going to get the love, the hate: That’s just what comes with being a professional athlete,” Russell told Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “But when a game is that exciting, it elevates, of course.”
For the 23-year-old guard, knowing his team is fighting for a playoff spot makes it that much easier:
“You know you go into a situation like that, and everybody is obviously speaking on my success, individual accolades, or the start here, there’s always a new title,” Russell said. “I’ve come here last year and when we played we were in a different situation: We weren’t in a playoff push, or the pressure wasn’t as high.
“So with all the pressure that they’re making and building for me coming back, it’s good. It takes the pressure off our team because we’re coming trying to win. We’re not worried about what I’ve got going on, or if it’s going to rain in LA or if the beach is nice. We’re really worried about trying to get a win and take our asses back the East Coast. That’s our business approach.”
The Nets are currently in seventh place and fighting to get the highest possible seed, a task that Russell says far outweighs any personal feelings he may have upon returning to La La Land:
“It’s way bigger than what I have [going on],” said Russell.
With only nine games left, the Nets must take every opportunity to rack up wins, considering they have the hardest strength of schedule remaining in their season.
