Lakers Need Career Year from D'Angelo Russell To Compete for Title Amid NBA Rumors

Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via The Los Angeles Lakers have a new leader at the helm in JJ Redick and the player-turned-first-time-coach is wasting little time trying to motivate one of the team's stars to have his best season ever.

ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported that Redick told him he "spoken to D'Angelo Russell probably more than any other Lakers player since he got the job" with the message being, "Let's put you in [a] position to have a career year."

The team will need Russell to have such a year if it hopes to be a legitimate NBA title contender in a loaded Western Conference.

The same Russell the team reportedly shopped in trades after he signed his player option.

The 28-year-old guard averaged 32.7 minutes, 18 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game a season ago.

It was one of his finest years in the NBA but struggles in the postseason, thanks in part to the streaky shooting that has defined his career, ended things on sour note.

During the Lakers' 4-1 series loss to the defending champion Nuggets, Russell averaged 14.2 points .384 from the paint and .318 from beyond the arc.

Redick told Lakers reporter Mike Trudell that Russell will "have a major role on this team" and that his mindset and leadership have stood out, which is good news for the team because Russell will be a essential to Los Angeles' pursuit of the team's 18th NBA title.

He is a dynamic shooter, has a quality jump shot, and can finish at the rim. His play-making abilities are undeniable and were on full display during a red-hot start to 2024. Redick figures to feature three-point shooting in his system and his point guard is a perfect fit.

He shot 41.5 percent from beyond the arc in the regular season.

It was the highest of his career.

If the fully supportive Redick can coach Russell up and get him to make the adjustments necessary to play at that high level consistently, the Lakers will be even better than they currently look on paper with the returns of key role players like Gabe Vincent, Cam Reddish, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Christian Wood.

Considering Redick was a former sharpshooter himself, sharing some of the same similarities with Russell, it stands to reason that he is best equipped to get the most out of his point guard and ensure that the Lakers have another piece to go along with LeBron James and Anthony Davis to help propel the team back into world title contention.