Brooklyn Nets: We were all wrong about D’Angelo Russell
We were all wrong about D’Angelo Russell, who’s excelling with the Brooklyn Nets this season, and it’s time to realize that
Dear D’Angelo Russell, on behalf the fans who deeply enjoy the NBA, I am taking the initiative to apologize for the slander you received in your first two seasons in the NBA.
Russell was the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NBA draft out of Ohio State. Many thought he was one of the safest picks in the draft and had stardom written all over him. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.
D-Russ would wind up in an awful situation with the Los Angeles Lakers. His numbers were bad, his play on the court often fluctuated, his teammates didn’t appear to like him and he fell into some early locker room issues. And those issues unfairly painted him into a certain type of player – one that would likely not reach his potential.
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The combination of the locker room setting, coaching and bad talent got to him, and putting it bluntly, he was terrible in his first two seasons. However, a trade to the Brooklyn Nets offered him the opportunity for a second chance – a new chapter for the former second overall pick.
And here we are, and my assumption was correct. Saying that Russell would not reach his potential, and likely never be a star at this level, was not. In 13 games this season, Russell is averaging 21 points, six assists and five rebounds per game. He’s also shooting 46 percent from the field and 30 percent from 3-point range. That’s really good, especially considering where was just last season.
Perhaps the best part of it all? He’s playing less minutes per night (27.8) than he was playing in Los Angeles. To recap: He’s raised all his statistics tremendously, all while playing less minutes. He’s much more efficient and is probably only going to get better with more minutes. Isn’t it funny how that works?
If played the average minutes of a star, 36, Russell would be averaging 27 points, six reboundsd and seven assists per game. All-Star numbers. Easily.
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At this rate, D’Angelo Russell is on pace to compile an NBA All-Star worthy season. Even though he’ll likely miss some time with a knee injury, he’s already proven through the first few weeks of the season that he’s back on track to reach his potential.
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Russell isn’t a finished product by any means. He still needs to bring consistency to his outside shot and could cut down on his turnovers, but it’s important to remember that he’s still only 21 years old. He will get better and is back on track to NBA stardom. Oh, and he still has a few more people to shut up too.