D'Angelo Russell is having a career year this season and his individual success on the court has been contagious for the Brooklyn Nets, one of the hottest teams in the league right now.
The Nets have won four straight games and eight of their last 10, largely due to Russell, who's been putting up 19.2 points, 6.4 assists, and 3.7 rebounds in 48 games.
New York Post's Greg Joyce had a chance to talk to Russell about his breakout season, and the four-year veteran said it is all because of his desire to win.
“It goes back to winning,” Russell said Tuesday after practice. “I’ve never really won in this league, so for the individual success to come with our team success as well, smiles on my face every day with that. It’s a good feeling.”
Russell, the second overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft, overcame a forgettable and controversial rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers, and eventually rebuilt his career with the Nets. Now, he's the team's leader and the franchise's cornerstone as they look forward to making the playoffs this year.
Over the past 10 games, Russell is averaging 24 points, 7.5 assists, and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 50 percent from the field and 45 percent from beyond the arc. Brooklyn head coach Kenny Atkinson has been really impressed with the 22 year old's recent play.
“Unbelievable. He has great confidence right now, on both ends of the floor. I think the other guys are feeding off that confidence. And it’s not just the shots he’s making, but how he’s running the offense and his command of the offense and guys following his command and his leadership. That’s a big part of our success.”
“This is the best he’s played, He’s playing at an All-Star level, quite honestly. And physically he looks great. I told him, ‘I don’t know what you’re doing, but keep doing it, because you look fast, you look recovered, you look spry.’”
In his last two games, Russell has scored at least 30 points and made at least seven 3-pointers in back-to-back wins against the Orlando Magic, an accomplishment that hasn't been done by any player that has worn a Nets jersey.
Although he knows that he's playing like an All-Star, Russell remains humble and gives a lot of credit to his teammates and coaches for his improved play.
“Honestly I feel like I’ve always played with that [swagger], I’ve always had that,” Russell said. “When your teammates and coaches are preaching the same things and we’re falling into place where who we are as a team and who each individual is on this team … it allows my job to be easier to come in every day and just do my job.”
Brooklyn is the sixth best team in the East, but they have the potential of making it to the top five or six in the conference if they continue to play the way they are right now.
And with Russell's dedication to helping this team win, things are looking better for the Nets.
This season and beyond.