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It appears Brooklyn Nets starting point guard D'Angelo Russell is maturing right in front of our eyes, and it's a welcome sight for the Nets and its fans.
Russell says he wants head coach Kenny Atkinson to be hard on him this season and call him out whenever he makes a mistake in practice or in a game. Atkinson recently did that in a practice after Russell turned the ball over, and the lefty says he wants his coach to do it every time he makes a miscue.
“I told him I want that,” Russell said, via Brian Lewis of The New York Times. “If you want to sub me out because of a turnover, however you decide to do it, I trust it. Trust me, there’s no way you’re mad more than I am about the turnover. But like I said, I think I’ve taken that step.”
Russell is slated to make $7.02 million this season. It doesn't look like he and the Nets will agree upon an extension before the season starts, which means Russell will enter restricted free agency in the summer of 2019 if Brooklyn offers him a $9.16 million qualifying offer.
When players are entering contract years, they usually play with an extra chip on their shoulder. But Russell says the whole Nets team has a chip on its shoulder after enduring a putrid campaign last season. Brooklyn only won 28 games and lost 54.
“We all have that chip on our shoulder and are better prepared this year,” Russell said. “We have a better feel for each other. Everybody has that competitive edge. I think we were a little too nice to each other last year. Guys were shying away from being competitive.
“But we came in, worked hard this summer. That chip has gotten bigger. I can just see it in practice. Everybody has somebody they’re going at.”
The Nets acquired D'Angelo Russell from the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer of 2017. In 48 games last season, Russell averaged 15.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.2 assists while shooting 41.4 percent from the field, 32.4 percent from beyond the arc, and 74.0 percent from the free-throw line. The 22-year-old underwent arthroscopic left knee surgery in November to remove loose bodies.
