To say that Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson is a fan of his All-Star point guard D'Angelo Russell would probably be an understatement.
Recently, coach Atkinson sung the praises of his 22-year-old guard, stating that in his mind, Russell is a “winner.”
“It’s another star on his résumé,” he said, via Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “He’s more than just a scorer, he’s more than just an elite passer. You’re a winner. To me, you make the playoffs, you put that on your label on your locker. It’s so hard to make the playoffs. We were so far away these past two years. To make this big jump, that was really unexpected. That makes it all the more sweet.”
In unquestionably his best season as a pro, Russell has led the charge for the Nets in what is widely regarded as one of the biggest surprises of the year. Atkinson rightfully gives a lot of credit to Russell for leading the Nets into an unexpected postseason run.
The Nets are currently tied with the Orlando Magic for the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference. They are slated to face the Miami Heat on Wednesday, which will likely determine which team they will end up facing in the first round of the playoffs.
A victory would set up an encounter with the third-seeded Philadelphia 76ers, while a defeat (assuming that the Magic win their final matchup against the Charlotte Hornets) will result in a matchup with Kawhi Leonard and the second-placed Toronto Raptors.
Russell and the Nets have done wonderfully to book their place in the postseason, but at this point, there's no time to celebrate with the playoffs fast approaching.
Follow Us
Subscribe