In a recent exchange of verbal jabs, Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell found himself on the receiving end of some fiery criticism from former teammate Dennis Schroder.
Dennis Schroder calls out D’Angelo Russell for ‘immaturity’ in fiery response to recent comments: https://t.co/xPe5T8OJdy
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) March 15, 2024
The German guard, now with the Brooklyn Nets, didn’t hold back in his response to Russell’s comments about their shared experience with Lakers assistant coach Darvin Ham.
In an interview with ESPN, Russell suggested that his inability to connect with Ham hindered his communication with the coaching staff during his time in Los Angeles, attributing the lack of dialogue to their differing relationships with the assistant coach.
Schroder wasted no time in firing back at Russell’s comments, expressing his displeasure with the insinuations made by his former teammate.
The 30-year-old guard, who stepped into Russell’s starting spot during the Lakers’ playoff run in the 2022-23 season, dismissed Russell’s claims of strained relationships and implied immaturity.
“It’s disappointing to hear D’Angelo speak about our time together in such a manner,” Schroder stated. “His comments reflect a level of immaturity that I simply can’t endorse. As professionals, we should focus on improving ourselves and our team, rather than pointing fingers and placing blame.”
The tension between the two guards extends beyond verbal sparring, as evidenced by previous on-court confrontations during games between the Lakers and other teams, notably the Toronto Raptors.
Schroder’s departure from the Lakers came last month when he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, adding an intriguing subplot to their upcoming matchup on March 31.
