Breaking news, the Los Angeles Lakers won a game! They snapped an eight-game losing streak thanks in part to D’Angelo Russell’s increased leadership on the court.
After the Lakers 122-110 road win over the Phoenix Suns, Russell received praise from his teammates and head coach Luke Walton for leading the way. Serena Winters of Spectrum SportsNet reported that Walton said Russell was “Definitely the leader of the group out there” and that rookie Brandon Ingram called Russell “The head of the snake”.
Luke Walton on D'Angelo Russell: "Definitely the leader of the group out there tonight."
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) March 10, 2017
Brandon Ingram on DLo: "head of the snake."
Ingram was also tagged for a postgame interview with Mike Trudell in which he said, “Our point guard led our team today.” The heavy praise shows that L.A.’s players appreciate having a guide on the court; a single force pointing them in the right direction. In his own postgame interview, Russell admitted that in some games he relies on others to talk and he isn’t talking at all. He made a concerted effort to change that Thursday night and it had a positive outcome on the game. If Russell can continue to communicate the way he did against the Suns, the Lakers may be able to grab hold of that ever so elusive consistency.
It wasn’t just Russell’s aggressive communication that was impressive. He was also aggressive offensively backing up his talk with his walk. He scored 28 points on 10-of-20 shooting with six made threes in L.A.’s win. Since the All-Star break, Russell is averaging 21.8 points per game, proving his aggressiveness isn’t a fluke. This is the D’Lo fans want to see. This is the D’Lo his teammates need. Not only a point guard that can lead vocally but one that leads with his play. Teammate Jordan Clarkson said, “He (D’Angelo) kinds of sets the tone…when he goes out and plays like that everyone follows suit” per Winters. An aggressive D’Angelo Russell is the Lakers’ best chance at success and truly proves their future is bright. When he takes control and delivers true leadership it shows among players, staff, and the results.
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Is D’Angelo Russell finally turning a corner for the Lakers? Can he lead the franchise back to respectability? Let us know what you think in the comments below!