The Lakers Need D’Angelo Russell to Reverse Disappointing Playoffs History

Some games, D’Angelo Russell, the talented Los Angeles Lakers point guard, reminds everyone why he was once an All-Star. Last Friday, for example. With LeBron James out, Russell went off. He scored 44 points, 27 off threes. He pulled down six rebounds. He handed out nine assists. Nearly half of his points came in the fourth quarter, including an off-balance runner with six seconds left that proved to be the game-winner.

Some games, Russell, the embattled Lakers playmaker, reminds everyone why he can’t be counted on in the playoffs. Wednesday night was one of them. The Lakers faced the Sacramento Kings, a conference rival a few games ahead of them in the standings. Russell scored six points in 29 minutes. He was 2 of 9 from the floor and 1 of 4 from three-point range.

“Tough night for me,” Russell said after the game.

Make a list of variables for the Lakers as they prepare for the postseason, which will likely include at least one win-or-go-home game in the play-in tournament. A sputtering offense. An inconsistent defense. An unproductive three-point attack. Russell may be the biggest. He plays well in wins: 19.6 points on 49.1% shooting, including 45.6% from three-point range. He struggles in losses: 15.4 points on 43.3% shooting.

Some nights, Russell can carry a team.

Others, he can sink it.

It’s a familiar story. Last season, Russell excelled following a midseason trade to the Lakers. He averaged 17.4 points in 17 games, connecting on 48.4% of his shots and 41.4% of his threes. In the playoffs, he shot 32.6% from the floor and 31% from three. He bottomed out in the conference finals, connecting on 32.3% of his shots and 13.3% of his threes against the Denver Nuggets.

It’s an issue. The Lakers know it. It’s no secret Los Angeles looked to upgrade before the trade deadline. The Lakers kicked the tires on Bruce Brown and Zach LaVine. If the asking price for Dejounte Murray wasn’t so high, Russell—and his $17.3 million contract—wouldn’t be there.

To Russell’s credit, the noise doesn’t seem to bother him. He’s been through a lot in his nine seasons. A tumultuous first two years in L.A. A revival in Brooklyn that ended with Russell as part of a sign-and-trade for Kevin Durant. A 33-game stint with the Golden State Warriors. A pairing with close friend Karl-Anthony Towns in Minnesota that began with potential—the Wolves made the playoffs in 2021–22—but ended with Russell offloaded to L.A. the next season. In the year he’s been back in Los Angeles, the Lakers have spent most of it trying to replace him.

“Public humiliation has done nothing but molded me into the killer that y’all see today,” Russell said recently. “And I never lack confidence. I never fear confrontation. I want all the smoke.”

His relationship with Lakers coach Darvin Ham has been bumpy. Russell told ESPN this week that Ham’s relationship with Dennis Schröder—who Ham coached as an assistant in Atlanta—prevented Russell from developing one with Ham last season. There was, Russell told ESPN, “no dialogue … I just accepted it.”

The relationship has improved this season. Schröder is gone. Before the start of training camp, Ham declared Russell the Lakers starting point guard. In late December, with Russell and the Lakers struggling, Ham benched him. In mid-January, he put Russell back in and he has played well since. Russell shot 46% from three in January. He shot 42% in February. This month, he’s at 46.7%.

Ham said the relationship with Russell “is in a great place.”

“We have great conversations,” Ham said. “Great text exchanges after games, during the game our in-game conversations. … It’s tough. That’s why the phrase is called ‘building a relationship.’ It doesn’t hit the ground running all the time smooth. Trying to figure things out on the fly. Then, for him, the beautiful thing about it I think that caused the difference in where we were then and where we are now is our ability to talk and be honest with one another. And our ability to really take accountability with one another. It’s two grown men both caring about winning. Both trying to help one another figure this thing out.”

It’s impossible to overstate how important Russell is to the Lakers. It has been a disappointing season in Los Angeles. The Lakers are 17th in offensive rating, per NBA.com. They are 17th in defensive rating. They are ninth in the league in three-point shooting (that’s good) but 30th in three-point percentage (that’s bad). By any definition, they are mediocre.

But they have stars. James is an All-NBA candidate this season. Anthony Davis, too. In close games, they will be able to finish with two proven postseason performers. But they need help. They need consistency from Austin Reaves. Reliable shooting from Rui Hachimura. Something from the bench unit of Taurean Prince, Spencer Dinwiddie and Max Christie.

And they need Russell to keep his shooting percentages high and his turnovers low. To be assertive on the offensive end and a deterrent on defense. Russell is confident in his abilities. “With my craft, with my talent on the floor, I’ve always felt like I was capable of things,” he said. In the playoffs, the Lakers desperately need him to show them.