D'Angelo Russell: 2nd Lakers Stint 'a Blur,' 'Trying to Move Past' it with Nets

Ahead of his first game against his former team since getting traded last month, Brooklyn Nets guard D'Angelo Russell commented Friday on how his second stint with the Los Angeles Lakers played out.

Speaking to reporters prior to Friday's road game, Russell called his most recent spell in L.A. "a blur."

Russell said there is a "home" for him in Los Angeles and noted his appreciation for his time with the Lakers, but added that he is "trying to get over and trying to move past" that stage of his career.

On Dec. 29, the Lakers sent Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second-round picks to the Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.

Russell began his NBA career with the Lakers in 2015 after they selected him No. 2 overall in the NBA draft, and he spent his first two seasons in L.A. before getting traded to Brooklyn.

After two seasons with the Nets, which included his first and only All-Star selection to date, Russell had runs with the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers then re-acquired him in 2023.

In 2023-24, which was the only full season Russell played in Los Angeles during his second stint, he was a valuable tertiary scorer behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis, averaging 18.0 points, 6.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 3.0 three-pointers made per game.

Russell largely struggled in 29 games with the Lakers this season, though, averaging 12.4 points, 4.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 three-pointers made, while shooting 41.5 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, and getting relegated to the bench.

With Russell no longer providing the same offensive spark as he did last season, the Lakers traded him for a versatile defender and efficient three-point shooter in Finney-Smith.

Due to the trade, Russell went from a 21-17 Lakers team that is in the thick of the playoff race as the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference to a Nets team that is 12th in the Eastern Conference at 14-27.

The Nets are clearly trying to retool their roster, as they dealt Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks during the offseason before trading away both Finney-Smith and Dennis Schröder this season.

Given that Russell is in the midst of the final year of his contract, it is not outside the realm of possibility that he could be dealt again prior to the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

Regardless of where he ends up this season, the 28-year-old veteran will hit free agency this offseason, which could lead to him landing with his fifth different team over the course of his 10-year career.