Los Angeles Lakers point guard D'Angelo Russell has navigated one of the most challenging experiences of any player in recent seasons. Whether he's performing well or struggling, he's routinely found his name in trade rumors—and has even been at odds with his head coach.
As JJ Redick prepares for his first season at the helm, however, the tone seems to have changed—and Russell is refusing to point the finger elsewhere.
Russell was the star of Media Day, offering thoughtful responses to the questions that were posed to him. That includes a remarkably introspective approach to evaluating where it all went wrong in 2023-24 and how he can produce the career year Redick hopes to see from him in 2024-25.
Unfortunately, trade rumors continue to swirl as Russell prepares for the third season of his second stint with the Lakers—a fact he addressed head-on at Media Day.
"I definitely just kind of got used to it. Hopefully, y'all kind know what y'all gonna get from me. This is definitely a new feel, new everything going on with the structure and with JJ kind of coming around and implementing what he's trying to do to kind of change the rhythm of things around here. So my approach is just stay steady."
Trade rumors have been a persistent distraction during Russell's second run in Los Angeles, but he's found a way to block them out and focus on what he can control.
D'Angelo Russell aiming to "stay steady" amid trade rumors
Earlier this summer, Russell accepted his player option for the 2024-25 season. He'll now go through the campaign with an expiring salary of $18,692,307 that many believe Los Angeles will look to move ahead of the 2025 NBA trade deadline.
Fuel was added to that fire when Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported that the Lakers are already exploring options to trade Russell.
Redick has made it a point to diffuse the trade rumors by heralding Russell as a leader who will have a "major role" in 2024-25. It's a welcome change of pace from 2022-23 and 2023-24, when Russell was twice benched by former head coach Darvin Ham.
It doesn't necessarily prove that Russell will avoid being traded this season, but it certainly offers a platform upon which he can make a final stand for a future in Los Angeles.
Russell is coming off of a season during which he looked like an All-Star again. He joined Luka Doncic, Damian Lillard, Tyrese Maxey, and Donovan Mitchell as the only players who averaged at least 18.0 points, 6.0 assists, and 3.0 three-point field goals made in 2023-24.
Russell also became the fourth player in NBA history to hit those marks while shooting at least 40.0 percent from beyond the arc.
Unfortunately, a poor showing in the playoffs has put Russell's name back on the rumor mill. It's a brutal place for any player to find themselves, let alone directly before the start of a new season, but compartmentalization appears to be an underrated strength.
The narrative will evolve as his performances continue to reside under the microscope, but Russell is going to take the rumors in stride as he avoids the risk of distraction.