The Los Angeles Lakers continued their road trip on Monday night against the Brooklyn Nets, hoping to bounce back after a tough loss to the Boston Celtics over the weekend. Missing key starters LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Jaxson Hayes, the Lakers leaned heavily on Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to carry the team against a struggling Nets squad.
However, despite Doncic's triple-double performance, it was the Nets who walked away victorious at Barclays Center, overcoming a 12-point first-quarter deficit to hand L.A. its second straight loss.
The matchup marked D'Angelo Russell's first game against the Lakers since being traded to Brooklyn in December as part of the deal that sent Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton to L.A.
Brooklyn Nets guard D'Angelo Russell (1) © Erik Williams-Imagn Images © Erik Williams-Imagn Images
After the game, Russell had some strong words about his time with the Lakers.
"It's great. I would never take it for granted, coming from where I came from. Obviously, I was a little traumatized there," Russell said, hinting at the struggles he faced during his time in Los Angeles. (via Michael Scotto of HoopsHype).
D'Angelo Russell says he's happy to be back with Brooklyn after being a ‘little traumatized' in LA
"It's great. I would never take it for granted, coming from where I came from. Obviously, I was a little traumatized there. To be here and get the opportunity to just be me… pic.twitter.com/9uzLYspYpS
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 11, 2025
Russell also reflected on his growth as a player and how Brooklyn has provided him with a better fit.
"I'm at the point in my career where I'm not going out and scoring 25 points every night and wowing with numbers. It's a point where I'm trying to gravitate towards doing it the right way, and how I can contribute to winning is my priority.
"(Coach Fernandez) lets me do that. He trusts me already, so I can imagine getting to training camp for something like that and having that under my belt with the guys. I think the sky's the limit."
Exclusive: Brooklyn Nets guard D'Angelo Russell wants to re-sign in free agency. DLo discussed his relationship with coach Jordi Fernandez, how Jordi is similar to Kenny Atkinson, Russell's experience with the Lakers, Austin Reaves, and more on @hoopshype. https://t.co/YS7qr6Ix89
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) March 11, 2025
The trade marked the second time the Lakers had dealt Russell to Brooklyn. Originally drafted second overall by LA in 2015, he was traded to the Nets after just two seasons. Russell thrived in Brooklyn, earning his first All-Star selection in 2019 before moving to the Golden State Warriors as part of the Kevin Durant sign-and-trade.
Russell returned to LA in 2023 after a solid tenure with the Minnesota Timberwolves. While he didn't quite make the lasting impact some expected, he helped the Lakers reach the 2023 Western Conference Finals, where they were swept by the eventual champion Denver Nuggets.
Thank you, DLo & Maxwell pic.twitter.com/Wm9L9NtQ3O
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 29, 2024
Since joining the Nets, Russell has posted 13.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists in 21 games, settling into a new role under coach Jordi Fernandez.
While Russell's time in Los Angeles had its ups and downs, his latest comments suggest he's in a much better place-both personally and professionally-as he looks to help the Nets rebuild toward future success.
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This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 2:29 PM.