The first-round series matchup between the Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers has been quite a battle.
However, this memorable matchup holds a bit more meaning for Nets star D'Angelo Russell who has a history with Sixers stud Ben Simmons. The 22-year-old Brooklyn guard recently spoke about his relationship with Simmons and how it has been facing his former teammate in the playoffs.
“It’s real cool when you look back on it, but we’re here now as competitors,” Russell said when asked about how it feels to face Simmons after Game 2, via Michael Scotto of The Athletic. “I don’t really have too many nice things to say about my opponent when it’s blood for blood. Like I said, you look at it, and it’s cool. The stories y’all write up on it are real cool, all of that, but I’m trying to win. I don’t really care about it.”
These two formed an unbreakable bond as high school teammates at Montverde Academy, but as Russell so clearly expressed here, he's all business when it comes to playoffs basketball. He did acknowledge how amazingly they're parallel journeys have reached new heights, but at the same time, brushed off any sentimental meaning to their current matchup.
Russell and the Nets are currently at a huge disadvantage entering Game 5 on Tuesday, with the Sixers holding a 3-1 series advantage. Brooklyn will need to go all out in Game 5 if they wish to keep their postseason run alive.
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