NBA: Ranking the top 10 point guards heading into 2019-20
By Quinn Allen
9. D’Angelo Russell, Golden State Warriors
2018-19 stats: 21.1 ppg, 7.0 assists, 3.9 rebounds
Ever since the trade that sent D’Angelo Russell from the Lakers to Brooklyn in 2017, he has solidified himself as a top 10 point guard in this league. After a breakout year this past season for the Nets, they shipped him off to Golden State to make room for Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
But there is absolutely no doubting what Russell meant to the Nets in his time there. Russell started all 81 games he featured in last season, averaging 21.1 points and dishing seven assists per night. He emerged as one of the best 3-point shooters in the game with a 37 percent clip. His playmaking skills proved to also be a valuable asset of his game, always finding teammates in better spots to score if he didn’t have a respectable look.
His ability to find lanes to the hoop and use his skillful handles are a treat to watch, whether he’s coming off a pick and roll or sinking a fade-away jumper. Russell can score in so many different ways and that’s exactly what makes him such a dangerous threat to oppositions.
With him now in Golden State, it’s going to be exciting to watch him play alongside Steph Curry, forming one of the best backcourts in the league. He will end up playing shooting guard instead, but it shouldn’t be too much of a transition for him. It will be interesting to see what they do when Klay Thompson comes back from his knee injury, but for the time being, expect to see Russell and Curry work some magic in Golden State this upcoming season.