D’Angelo Russell threw shade at the Lakers when comparing them to the Nets: “When I got to Brooklyn, they taught me how to sleep, how to eat, how to recover” originally appeared on Basketball Network.
The last few months have been tumultuous for D’Angelo Russell, courtesy of the Los Angeles Lakers trading him to the Brooklyn Nets. Coincidentally, he had two tenures with both of the franchises. That said, he never hesitated to list his preference between them.
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The second overall pick in the 2015 draft, D’Lo, was drafted by the Lakers. Fortunate to have the late Kobe Bryant as a teammate during his rookie season, Russell showed promise. However, he was unable to meet the desired expectations, not to mention his incident with Nick Young.
Entering his third year in the league, Russell was traded to the Nets, where he showed substantial growth, including earning an All-Star selection. Nonetheless, destiny reunited him with the Lakers in 2023, but things didn’t go as planned yet again.
Recently, when asked about the structural differences between the Lakers and Nets, D’Lo did not mince his words.
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“The organization of Brooklyn is different. It’s unlike any other. The performance team, the coach, everything about Brooklyn is different than you would expect, and I’ve been around the league, where I came from the Lakers, where the structure is not the same.”
“Then I go to Brooklyn, where it’s all structure, and it taught me how to be a professional. I always approached the game to where I was nonchalant and I felt like I could just wing it…When I got to Brooklyn, they taught me how to sleep, how to eat, how to recover, and that’s why I’m still playing to this day,” stated Russell, who played three seasons for the Nets.
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What went wrong the second time with the Lakers
Ahead of the 2023 All-Star break, the Lakers acquired Russell from the Timberwolves. Blessed with another opportunity to represent the Purple and Gold, D’Lo had superstars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis by his side. The same year, the Lakers reached the WCF as well.
During his 2023 playoff run with the Lakers, Russell averaged 13.3 points, 4.6 assists and 2.9 rebounds on 42.6 percent shooting from the field. Yet again, his inconsistent output was a sign of worry. Nonetheless, he managed to re-sign a two-year contract with the team.
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During the 2024-25 season under new coach JJ Redick, Russell witnessed an evident decline in his role on the team. Coming off the bench during games, his minutes dropped as well. Adding to it, Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton made for a better fit on the roster.
New beginning with the Mavericks
Heading into the 2025-26 season, Russell will be seen in yet another new uniform, this time for the Mavericks. The 29-year-old signed a two-year $13 million deal with the Dallas franchise. Sharing the backcourt with veterans like Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving, he stands to learn a lot.
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Not to mention, the generational talent in Cooper Flagg, who will make his NBA debut this upcoming season. Russell also reunites with former Lakers teammate Anthony Davis.
Overall, things look promising for Russell, who will also need to hold up his end of the bargain, especially when it comes to maintaining consistent output. Now on a championship-contending team, he has the perfect opportunity to silence all his critics and naysayers.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 6, 2025, where it first appeared.