Brooklyn Nets forward Joe Harris believes that teammate D'Angelo Russell deserves to be an All-NBA member this season after having a breakout year for them.
Russell, the second overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, was traded to the Nets from the Los Angeles Lakers before the previous season. There were doubts about his ability to lead a team, but the 23-year-old guard silenced his critics this season. He earned an All-Star spot, and Harris believes his teammate played at an All-NBA level this season.
“DLo obviously was recognized by the league, All-Star appearance, and I think he’s honestly played at an All-NBA level,” Harris said of Russell via Michael Scotto of The Athletic. “He has been the main focus for us all year long.”
Russell is averaging career-highs 21.2 points on 43.3 percent shooting and 7.0 assists per game this season. The former Ohio State standout is also tallying 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals for the Nets. Harris himself is also having a solid season for Brooklyn. The five-year veteran is averaging career-highs 13.6 points on 49.8 percent shooting, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.4 dimes per game. He has started in all of his 75 games this season and has become one of the top options on offense for his team.
Russell and Harris connived to lead the Nets to an all-important 108-96 win against the Pacers at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Russell finished with 20 points on top of six rebounds and six assists, while Harris ended up with 19 points and four rebounds.
With the win, the Nets improved to 41-40, which is good for sixth place in the Eastern Conference. More importantly, the victory helped Brooklyn clinch a playoff spot, which ended their three-year postseason drought.
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