The Los Angeles Lakers registered their first win of the NBA preseason against the Brooklyn Nets.
It was a close game, as the final score stood at 129-126 in favor of the Lakers.
D’Angelo Russell had a sensational game, recording 14 points, 1 rebound, and 6 assists vs. the Nets.
Considering Russell somewhat lost his confidence during the 2023 Western Conference Finals, Laker Nation felt good after seeing the 27-year-old gather it back in the preseason.
Austin Reaves had nothing but praise for his teammate via Spectrum SportsNet on Twitter, as he believes Russell can be unguardable at times.
“I kindly remind him all the time that there’s probably not anybody that could guard him,” Reaves said.
Austin Reaves speaks on the #Lakers shooting ability and D’Angelo Russell being unguardable. pic.twitter.com/w70vECOrnt
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) October 10, 2023
The Lakers traded for Russell midseason last year to bolster their chances of making the NBA playoffs in the 2022-23 season.
Russell made an instant impact on the team with his long-range shooting ability.
Even during the preseason game, Russell shot a phenomenal 80% from downtown.
Many believed the Lakers wouldn’t bring back Russell this summer, but he gained a spot on the roster.
Russell was offered a two-year, $36 million contract by the Purple and Gold.
The former second-overall pick averaged 17.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game for the Lakers last season.
Considering the Lakers have a much better roster heading into the new season if Russell can provide a similar outcome, it could do wonders for the team.
The only point of concern for him is whether he can take on the pressure of donning the iconic Lakers jersey in the postseason.
After all, Russell’s numbers plummeted during the 2023 playoffs, especially in the Western Conference Finals.
