With trade rumors leading up to the NBA trade deadline, Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell made a conscious decision to relinquish control and approach the high-stress situation with a newfound perspective.
Russell, who found himself amid swirling trade talks, adopted a mindset of detachment, treating the situation as if he were a passenger on a plane with no influence over the outcome.
In an interview with FOX Sports, Russell explained,
“Honestly, everybody around me, like my friends, my family, they were kinda panicking a little bit, panicking for me. And I kinda just never let my mind go there. For me, it was wake up, come to work. I just kinda stayed in that moment. It allowed me to catch a vibe, just flow through basketball, you know.”
This change in perspective overturned Russell’s performance. Over a nine-game stretch from mid-January to the end of the month, he showcased an impressive surge, averaging 27 points on 50.4 percent shooting from the field and 50.8 percent from beyond the arc.
“I never played to not get traded,” Russell emphasized. “I was just kinda like, f— it. And that ‘f— it’ allowed me to play my game.”
Exclusive with D’Angelo Russell. He’s well aware that his strong play ahead of the trade deadline may have changed his career trajectory.
"I never played to not get traded. I was just kinda like, f— it. And that ‘f— it' allowed me to play my game."https://t.co/WXeWg932q5
— Melissa Rohlin (@melissarohlin) February 15, 2024
The Lakers, previously exploring potential trades for Russell, were forced to reassess his value due to his outstanding performance amidst the trade rumors.
“Guys come in, they care about their percentages, they care about all this stuff and then they struggle,” Russell noted. “As soon as I stopped caring about it, I played my best basketball of my career.”
The Lakers ultimately chose not to make any moves at the trade deadline, and Russell expressed relief at remaining with the team. However, he admitted to preparing himself mentally to go anywhere, emphasizing his desire to be in a place where he feels genuinely appreciated.
Russell, who returned to the Lakers in 2023 after being traded four times previously, now feels a stark difference in the organization’s approach.
Having matured since his first stint with the Lakers, Russell has become a crucial contributor, averaging 17.6 points and emerging as a dependable third scorer behind James and Anthony Davis.
