D’Angelo Russell, now suiting up for the Dallas Mavericks, didn’t mince words when discussing the stark differences between two of his former teams. His candid take on the Los Angeles Lakers versus the Brooklyn Nets reveals just how much organizational culture can shape a player’s trajectory.
Lakers Years: A Rocky Foundation
When the Lakers grabbed Russell with the second pick in 2015, expectations ran high. But those two seasons turned into a learning experience of the hard variety. The team managed just 45 wins across 164 games under Byron Scott and Luke Walton – numbers that tell their own story.
Russell’s Lakers chapter ended when he got packaged in a deal that brought Kyle Kuzma and Brook Lopez to Los Angeles. Looking back, the point guard suggests the organization left him unprepared for what professional basketball really demanded.
Brooklyn’s Blueprint for Success
The contrast couldn’t have been sharper when Russell landed in Brooklyn. Speaking on Dwyane Wade’s show on the Wy Network, he painted a picture of an organization that operated on an entirely different level.
“The performance, team, coach — everything about Brooklyn is different than what you would expect,” Russell shared. “I came from the Lakers where the structure is not the same, and then I go to Brooklyn where it’s all structure and it taught me how to be a professional.”
That structural difference wasn’t just talk. Under Kenny Atkinson’s guidance for two seasons, Russell discovered what it meant to approach basketball as a craft rather than just natural talent.
From Casual to Committed
Russell owned up to his earlier mindset – at 19 and 20, he figured he could coast on ability alone. That nonchalant attitude worked until it didn’t. Brooklyn changed the equation entirely.
The proof showed up in his numbers. During the 2018-19 campaign, Russell put up 21.1 points and seven assists per game, earning his first and only All-Star nod. More importantly, he helped drag the Nets back to playoff relevance for the first time since 2014-15.
But the real education happened away from the court. “I’m not a guy that’s athletic, I had to take care of my body, I had to recover, I had to eat the best way. I couldn’t just show up. And that’s what Brooklyn really taught me,” Russell explained.
Sleep schedules, nutrition plans, recovery protocols – Brooklyn transformed Russell’s entire approach to maintaining his body and extending his career.
Dallas and the Long Game
Fast-forward to today, and Russell’s still reaping the benefits of those Brooklyn lessons. His two-year, $11.6 million deal with Dallas represents his 11th NBA season – longevity that might not have happened without that organizational overhaul.
The Mavericks roster presents new opportunities, with teammates like Anthony Davis and rookie Cooper Flagg bringing different dynamics to the mix. But Russell credits his staying power to those professional habits Brooklyn instilled years ago.
Tags: Brooklyn Nets, D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers
