Russell said Friday that he will exercise his $18.69 million player option for 2024-25 to remain with the Lakers, Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com reports.
Though Russell disappointed in the Lakers' five-game first-round playoff series loss to the Nuggets, he delivered a strong 2023-24 season overall, fueled by a strong close to the campaign once he moved back into a starting role in mid-January. In 76 appearances for the Lakers, Russell averaged 18.0 points on 45.6 percent shooting from the field, 6.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 3.0 three-pointers and 0.9 steals in 32.7 minutes. Though Russell once again projects to slot in as the Lakers' starting point guard under first-year head coach J.J. Redick, the 28-year-old's expiring contract could make him vulnerable to a trade if Los Angeles seeks an upgrade at the position as the 2024-25 season unfolds.
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Lakers' D'Angelo Russell: Another poor shooting performance
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Russell closed Monday's 108-106 loss to the Nuggets in Game 5 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs with 14 points (6-15 FG, 2-10 3Pt), one rebound and six assists in 39 minutes.
Russell finished the opening-round series shooting 38.4 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from deep. He had a pair of standout performances, but his overall production was too inconsistent. It was a disappointing end to what was a solid season for the veteran point guard. Russell appeared in 76 games (69 starts) and averaged 18.0 points on 45.6/41.5/82.8 shooting splits during the regular season.
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Lakers' D'Angelo Russell: Bounces back in Game 4 win
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Russell ended Saturday's 119-108 win over the Nuggets in Game 4 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs with 21 points (8-15 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 1-2 FT), four rebounds, four assists and one steal in 41 minutes.
Russell faced tons of scrutiny following a woeful effort in a Game 3 loss during which he finished scoreless (0-7 FG, 0-6 3Pt), but he bounced back admirably and reached the 20-point mark for the second time in this series. Russell will need to carry his hot hand into Game 5 if the Lakers want to avoid elimination Monday.
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Lakers' D'Angelo Russell: Shows improvement in Game 2
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Russell logged 23 points (8-16 FG, 7-11 3Pt), three rebounds and six assists across 39 minutes during Monday's 101-99 loss to the Nuggets in Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.
Russell delivered a much-improved effort compared to Game 1 when he notched 13 points while shooting poorly from the field (6-20 FG, 1-9 3Pt). However, his strong contributions were not enough Monday, as the Lakers wasted a 20-point lead and lost the game on a buzzer-beater from Jamal Murray. Nonetheless, the uptick in efficiency is nice to see from Russell, who should have a pivotal role on offense in Thursday's decisive Game 3.
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Lakers' D'Angelo Russell: Poor shooting display in Game 1
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Russell amassed 13 points (6-20 FG, 1-9 3Pt), three rebounds, three assists and two steals across 41 minutes during Saturday's 114-103 loss to Denver in Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.
The Lakers needed Russell to be at his best as a scoring threat, so his 6-for-20 outing from the field wasn't a pleasant sight for a Lakers team that cooled off as the game progressed. Russell ended with more field-goal attempts than points scored, and he needs to bounce back ahead of Game 2 on Monday.
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Lakers' D'Angelo Russell: Lands five triples in win
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Russell finished Tuesday's 110-106 Play-In Game victory over the Pelicans with 21 points (7-14 FG, 5-11 3Pt, 2-2 FT), six assists, one block and one steal over 37 minutes.
Russell was hot early, connecting on three of his five triples in the opening quarter. Although he did cool off, he was able to connect on a crucial three-pointer late in the piece, giving the Lakers a four-point lead with only seconds remaining. The Lakers will need Russell to stay hot should they hope to advance past the defending champion Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.
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Lakers' D'Angelo Russell: Struggles to find shot Friday
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Russell totaled four points (2-9 FG, 0-5 3Pt), three rebounds, 10 assists, one block and one steal in 35 minutes during Friday's 123-120 win over Memphis.
Russell's scoring output was tied for his second-lowest this season, and he failed to knock down a shot from three-point range for just the second time over his past 24 games. Since putting up 28 points on 11-for-17 shooting against Cleveland on April 6, the point guard has averaged just 11.0 points on 25.6 percent shooting over his subsequent three contests. On a positive note, Russell has dished double-digit assists in two of those games.
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Lakers' D'Angelo Russell: Leads Lakers in scoring
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Russell posted 28 points (11-17 FG, 6-12 3Pt), five rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal across 31 minutes during Saturday's 116-97 victory over the Cavaliers.
Anthony Davis and LeBron James posted impressive performances in their own right, yet Russell carried the Lakers on offense by posting a team-high scoring tally. The Lakers will still go as far as the James and Davis duo can take them, but having Russell as a reliable scoring option should provide a big boost on offense too. Russell has scored 23 or more points in four of his last seven contests.
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Lakers' D'Angelo Russell: Drains seven threes in rout
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Russell finished Tuesday's 128-111 victory over the Raptors with 25 points (9-17 FG, 7-14 3Pt), two rebounds and seven assists across 33 minutes.
Aside from a rough performance last Friday in Indiana, Russell has been on fire from long range of late. The veteran guard has hit for at least three made three-pointers in seven of the last eight games and has averaged 20.6 points, 7.5 assists, 4.3 threes, 4.0 boards and 1.4 steals over that stretch while shooting 41.5 percent (34-for-82) from beyond the arc.
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Lakers' D'Angelo Russell: Strong from deep in balanced game
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Russell tallied 18 points (6-12 FG, 4-10 3Pt, 2-4 FT), six assists, six rebounds and four steals over 32 minutes in Sunday's 116-104 win over Brooklyn.
Russell connected on a quartet of threes while handing out a team-high-tying assist total and leading all Lakers in steals while putting forth a well-rounded performance in a winning effort. Russell has swiped four or more steals in three games this season, last doing so March 4 against Oklahoma City. He has posted at least 15 points and five assists in two of his last five contests. Russell was strong on the glass in the win, having hauled in six or more boards in seven games.
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Lakers' D'Angelo Russell: Plays 50 minutes in comeback win
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Russell accumulated 29 points (7-22 FG, 5-12 3Pt, 10-10 FT), 12 assists, seven rebounds, two steals and one block across 50 minutes during Tuesday's 128-124 double-overtime win over the Bucks.
With LeBron James (ankle) sitting out and with the game requiring two overtime periods, Russell and Austin Reaves (48 minutes) took on huge workloads out of the backcourt. Though he struggled with his shot and didn't score his first points until midway through the second quarter, Russell played a key role in helping the Lakers come back from a fourth-quarter deficit that was as much as 17 points with less than eight minutes remaining in regulation. He drilled a pair of jumpers and hit a pair of free throws in the fourth quarter to help send the game to overtime, then hit two more game-tying free throws in the first overtime in addition to handing out three assists. With James expected back for Wednesday's game in Memphis, Russell will likely see a downturn in the 25.2 percent usage rate he handled Tuesday.
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Lakers' D'Angelo Russell: Not listed on injury report
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Russell (illness) isn't listed on the Lakers' injury report ahead of Tuesday's game against the Bucks.
Russell missed Sunday's win over the Pacers due to an illness but will be back in action Tuesday. He could see increased usage versus the Bucks, as LeBron James (ankle) is listed as doubtful.
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Lakers' D'Angelo Russell: Out sick
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Russell is out for Sunday's game against the Pacers due to a non-COVID illness, Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com reports.
Russell was not originally listed on the injury report ahead of game time, but he will not be available for Sunday's bout due to an illness. Spencer Dinwiddie and Max Christie are leading candidates to see an expanded role without Russell.
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Lakers' D'Angelo Russell: New franchise three-point king
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Russell finished Friday's 101-94 victory over Philadelphia with 14 points (4-13 FG, 4-10 3Pt, 2-2 FT), five rebounds, three assists and one steal in 37 minutes.
The 28-year-old point guard set a new franchise record in the first quarter when he drained his 184th three-pointer of the season, breaking Nick Van Exel's mark from 1994-95. Russell has hit for multiple threes in 13 of 14 games since the All-Star break, a stretch in which he's averaged 20.0 points, 6.4 assists, 3.7 boards, 3.6 threes and 1.0 steals while shooting 44.0 percent from beyond the arc.
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Lakers' D'Angelo Russell: Ties franchise three-point record
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Russell notched 27 points (8-14 FG, 6-10 3Pt, 5-5 FT), four rebounds, 10 assists and one steal across 30 minutes during Monday's 136-105 win over the Hawks.
Russell had his stroke working Monday, as he went 6-for-10 from beyond the arc, marking the seventh time this season he has drained at least six triples in a contest. The veteran point guard is up to 183 three-pointers on the campaign, tying him with Nick Van Exel for the franchise's all-time single-season record. Russell complemented his sharpshooting with 10 dimes against Atlanta, marking the second straight game in which he has reached double-digit assists after failing to do so in his previous 11 contests.
Russell recorded 23 points (9-21 FG, 3-10 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds, 13 assists and one steal across 40 minutes during Saturday's 128-121 loss to the Warriors.
Russell didn't have his best shooting performance since he needed 21 shots to score 23 points, but he still posted a strong double-double after dazzling as a playmaker. Russell is currently going through one of the most productive stretches of the season, averaging 19.9 points, 6.3 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game since the All-Star break while shooting 47.6 percent from the field and 42.7 percent from three-point range.
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Lakers' D'Angelo Russell: Inconsequential in loss
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Russell contributed six points (2-9 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 1-2 FT), two rebounds, six assists, one block and one steal in 33 minutes during Wednesday's 120-107 loss to Sacramento.
Russell found no offensive rhythm Wednesday despite the Lakers shooting 43.8 percent from deep as a team. Russell only committed two turnovers and posted a minus-4 net rating despite a 13-point defeat, so Wednesday's outing is best perceived as a night when his shots just didn't fall.
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Lakers' D'Angelo Russell: Explodes for 44 points Friday
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Russell totaled 44 points (17-25 FG, 9-12 3Pt, 1-1 FT), six rebounds, nine assists and one block over 38 minutes during Friday's 123-122 victory over the Bucks.
The Lakers were without LeBron James (ankle) on Friday, and it was Russell who took the initiative to make up for the All-Star forward's absence. The veteran point guard led Los Angeles with a season-high 44 points, 21 of which came in the fourth quarter and the final two of which came on a jumper with 5.9 seconds remaining to give his team the win. Russell also tied a career high with nine triples and found time to dish out nine assists, putting together one of the best all-around performances of his career. After dealing with trade rumors earlier in the campaign, Russell has emerged as a critical piece of the Lakers' offense, scoring 20-plus points in five of nine games since the All-Star break and knocking down multiple triples in every contest during that span.
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Lakers' D'Angelo Russell: Awful night in loss
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Russell closed with 10 points (3-10 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 2-2 FT), one rebound, three assists and one steal over 35 minutes during Wednesday's 130-120 loss to Sacramento.
Russell couldn't get anything going offensively and struggled mightily on defense, allowing De'Aaron Fox to put up a season-high 44 points. Although Anthony Davis and LeBron James run the show, the Lakers need excellent output from every starter to be successful, and the system doesn't work as well if Russell can't move the ball. He is still a quality fantasy asset despite the bad result.
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Lakers' D'Angelo Russell: Posts 22 points in OT win
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Russell totaled 22 points (9-21 FG, 4-11 3Pt), six rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal over 44 minutes during Thursday's 134-131 overtime victory over the Wizards.
Russell contributed in every major category during the narrow win. The veteran guard is executing one of his most accurate shooting years as a pro, and his three-point stroke has enjoyed the most improvement. He's connecting on 41.7 percent beyond the arc this season, which is a career high. Russell is also averaging 2.0 turnovers per game, which marks the lowest percentage of his nine-year career.