D’Angelo Russell has been on an extended hot streak for the Los Angeles Lakers since mid-January. In his last 31 games, he’s averaging 22 points and 6.8 assists while shooting 44.9% from 3-point range. It has been an amazing rebound from a horrific December, a month in which he temporarily lost his starting job.
But while Russell has earned the love of Lakers fans, there is the prospect of his upcoming player option. He can decline that option and become a free agent this summer, and if he were to leave, it would leave a big void.
He said he would love to stay with the Lakers past this season (h/t Lakers Daily).
Via HoopsHype:
“I’d love to be here and continue to give it a run and be where my feet are now,” Russell told HoopsHype. “Obviously, I’ve been on the other side of it, and I’ve been through the roller coaster of free agency and having to sit back and wait. I’m looking forward to not having to worry about that. I’ve been blessed enough to put myself in this position with my play. I’m definitely planning on taking advantage of that. When that time comes, I feel that everything will play out how it’s supposed to play out.”
It’s no coincidence Los Angeles has played a lot better since Russell was reinserted into the starting lineup on Jan. 13 versus the Utah Jazz. Going into that game, the team was 19-20. Since then, it has gone 22-12, and it has a firm grip on ninth place in the Western Conference.
He’s now the Lakers’ all-time single-season leader in made 3-pointers, and he is a much different player than he was during his first stint with them several years ago.