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The Los Angeles Lakers host the Brooklyn Nets at home tonight. This will mark D'Angelo Russell's return to the Arena since being traded by the Lakers just a few weeks ago. Ahead of his return, JJ Redick thinks D'Angelo Russell will be playing very hard and very well. Speaking at Lakers practice, Redick praised D-Lo's competitiveness, saying that playing against his old team would be a good motivator.
“I expect him to come out and try to have a great game. He does not have a lack of competitiveness. He takes a lot of pride in who he is as a player. I’m expecting him to try to go at us tomorrow. Like you said, he’s going to go against his old team. He’s going to be ready to play us and it’s going to be a fun one. So it’ll be fun to see DLo again.”
Russell was traded to the Nets, along with Maxwell Lewis, in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. Russell had struggled greatly this season with the Lakers and was becoming a real detriment to the team. Despite starting the season as a starter, Russell was moved to the bench very quickly and still wasn't able to recover his form.
In the 29 games he played for the Lakers, Russell averaged 12.4 points, 4.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 0.1 blocks while shooting 41.5% from the field, 33.3% from the three-point line, and 84.9% from the free-throw line. It was clear that things were not working between the two sides.
Russell Has Not Improved On The Nets
Since returning to the Nets, Russell has experienced a similar form. Despite putting up 22 points, two rebounds, eight assists, one steal, and two blocks in his first game back with the Nets, his form has dipped, and he is now putting up almost identical numbers compared to what he did with the Lakers before being traded.
In his four games with the Nets, D-Lo has averaged 12.8 points, 8.3 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 0.5 blocks while shooting 41.0% from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc, and 92.9% from the charity stripe. These numbers are eerily similar to the figures he was averaging with the Lakers prior to the trade.
However, Russell does seem to be more optimistic about his chances with the Nets. Even though this is the second time in his career he has been traded from the Lakers to the Nets, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, as Russell is excited to play for the Nets.
Patrick Beverley backed Russell to do well with the Nets while claiming the Lakers might not find similar success with Dorian Finney-Smith. Redick himself spoke positively about D-Lo, claiming that the Lakers would miss him after the trade. But of course, there is going to be some level of animosity from Russell's end.
Russell makes his return tonight as the Nets play the Lakers at the Arena at 10:30 PM EST.
