He was one of the players most likely to leave the Lakers during the last trade deadlinebut D'Angelo Russell ultimately stayed. The consequence of his good performances from mid-January, since he went from “only” 14.7 points and 6.1 assists on average (to 39% at 3-points) between October 24 and January 11, to 22.0 points and 6.8 assists on average (45% from 3-point range) since January 13!
Completely out of the starting five Los Angeles, a sort of electric shock, “D-Lo” therefore experienced the decision of his trainer, Darvin Ham. Since then, he has established himself, once again, as a starter and as a solid third member of this “Big Three” angeleno that he is supposed to train with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Test the market this year, or wait?
Obviously, his future in California no longer seems as uncertain as a few weeks ago, since he could very well continue the adventure with the “Purple & Gold” beyond this season, while D'Angelo Russell will have a “player option” of 18.7 million dollars to activate, or not, to stay in LA.
“ I would love to be here and keep fighting, to be where I am right now » he concedes in any case on this subject, from Hoopshype. “ Obviously, I've been on the other side before, experienced the roller coaster ride of free agency and had to sit and wait. But I'm looking forward to not having to worry about it anymore. I've been lucky enough to put myself in this position because of my play and I definitely plan to take advantage of it. But when the time comes, I have the feeling that everything will unfold as it should.. »
The pressure of the contract on your shoulders?
After having to settle for a simple two-year, $36 million contract last summer, with an optional second year, D'Angelo Russell was perhaps overtaken by the pressure, having indirectly had to redo its evidence to obtain more money from 2024, by exercising its exit clause.
“ It’s definitely pressure. » first recognizes, honestly, the new record holder for 3-point baskets made by a Lakers player over a season. “ This is something that can eat away at a lot of players in the league. Many can be at their highest at times and at their worst at others, causing an emotional roller coaster through the ups and downs of a season. I wanted to control that. I wanted to stay sane and stay the course despite the ups and downs. »
As the play-in and/or playoffs approach, D'Angelo Russell is in full swing and the hardest part is ahead for him, because it is during the big spring battles that he will be expected by his franchise and his fans.
If he manages to make up for his last playoffs, it's a safe bet that he will obtain this annual salary of around twenty million dollars that he already coveted in the previous one. free agency.
Player option : possibility for a player to activate (or not) the last year of his contract, in order to end his lease or become a “free agent” one year in advance.
| D'Angelo Russell | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2015-16 | LAL | 80 | 28 | 41.0 | 35.1 | 73.7 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 13.2 |
| 2016-17 | LAL | 63 | 29 | 40.5 | 35.2 | 78.2 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.8 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 15.6 |
| 2017-18 | BRK | 48 | 26 | 41.4 | 32.4 | 74.0 | 0.6 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 5.2 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 15.5 |
| 2018-19 | BRK | 81 | 30 | 43.4 | 36.9 | 78.0 | 0.7 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 7.0 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 0.3 | 21.1 |
| 2019-20 * | All Teams | 45 | 32 | 42.6 | 36.7 | 80.9 | 0.4 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 6.3 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 23.1 |
| 2019-20 * | GOS | 33 | 32 | 43.0 | 37.4 | 78.5 | 0.4 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 6.2 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 0.3 | 23.6 |
| 2019-20 * | MIN | 12 | 33 | 41.2 | 34.5 | 87.3 | 0.3 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 6.6 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 3.8 | 0.3 | 21.7 |
| 2020-21 | MIN | 42 | 29 | 43.1 | 38.7 | 76.5 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 5.8 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 19.0 |
| 2021-22 | MIN | 65 | 32 | 41.1 | 34.0 | 82.5 | 0.4 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 7.1 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 18.1 |
| 2022-23 * | All Teams | 71 | 33 | 46.9 | 39.6 | 82.9 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 6.2 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 17.8 |
| 2022-23 * | MIN | 54 | 33 | 46.5 | 39.1 | 85.6 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 6.2 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 17.9 |
| 2022-23 * | LAL | 17 | 31 | 48.4 | 41.4 | 73.5 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 6.1 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 17.4 |
| 2023-24 | LAL | 66 | 32 | 46.3 | 42.3 | 82.0 | 0.4 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 6.4 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 18.2 |
| Total | 561 | 30 | 43.0 | 36.9 | 79.1 | 0.5 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 5.8 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 17.8 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
