Timberwolves point guard D’Angelo Russell, speaking to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic in an extensive interview, asserted that his latest landing spot, playing alongside best friend Karl-Anthony Towns in Minnesota, is “where I’m supposed to be.”
After being drafted by the Lakers with the No. 2 pick in 2015, Russell was shipped to the Nets in the summer of 2017. He evolved into an All-Star for Brooklyn in 2019, and was promptly moved in a four-year, $117MM maximum contract sign-and-trade with the Warriors that summer.
At the time of his overcrowding the Golden State backcourt, it was widely speculated that he was brought in to eventually be shipped out as a trade asset. In February 2020, that speculation bore fruit, as Russell, Jacob Evans and Omari Spellman were sent to Minnesota in exchange for Andrew Wiggins and two future draft picks.
The 6’4″ 24-year-old out of Ohio State reflected on his prolific NBA resume in an interesting piece.
“When I tell you about my career,” Russell tells Krawcyznski, “it’s like I’m in the water and I take a breath… then I see it and I go back in the water.”
Elsewhere in Russell’s interview with Krawcyznski, which is worth reading in full, Russell discusses all the stops on his five-year NBA journey to this point. Here are some highlights:
On his tumultuous tenure with the Lakers:
“I didn’t know how to be a professional and the guidance wasn’t there also… I don’t blame anybody. I blame myself. It was really a blur to me, just in the sense that the things that I’ve been through ever since then.”
On then-Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson’s role in Russell’s All-Star development:
“I’m not going to give (all the credit) to Kenny… I still don’t think he knew what he had, honestly. I don’t think he knew what I was capable of in the fourth quarter.”
On learning from Golden State’s championship-level All-Stars:
“My whole thing was I’m gonna just learn from these guys… Even if I don’t get to play with them (very long), I’m going to pick their brain as much as I can.”
On savoring his new leadership role in Minnesota:
“I’ve been enjoying it knowing I could be here for the rest of my career if I take advantage of it.”
4 teams in 5 years. That’s a little wishful thinking that you’re in a permanent home, let alone it being Minnesota.
Kenny Atkinson would be a great coach on the TWolves. He helped DAngelo and made a great culture there.
Hope kenny atkinson be bulls HC
Minny has Saunders, which I think is way better than Atkinson. Also KAT likes Saunders… even D’lo doesn’t like much Atkinson, ergo no chance at all! Great escape for Minny, if you ask me!
D’Lo just said he wasn’t sold on Atkinson, and he had experience with him. I can’t give KA too much credit since he did not seem to recognize Dinwiddie either… Levert is still a mystery, and whats up with Kurocs, plus Irving and now this.
Interesting comments by D’Lo. He was probably not well introduced by soon-to-retire Kobe. Kobe’s last game, meaningless but for his 60 points on 60 shots, just got ABC prime time.
Towns and Russell will sell tickets so I’m sure they will be around for a few years
Is Towns guaranteed to stay in Minnesota?
Stat guy who will never win anything of significance
MVP is worth a lot more than a ring, but anyway if you don’t like KAT ain’t much I can tell you, right?
I was referring to DLo…
Sorry for my misunderstanding, the post before you was talking about KAT.
Understood, but that was a comment before me – not a post – and my comment didn’t fall under that one as a reply.
My comment was in response to the original post/article about DLo.
Enjoy 9 & 10 of the documentary Sunday!
I didn’t want the Knicks to trade KP. I wanted them to use their 1 max slot that summer on DeAngelo Russell. How did they let DeAngelo leave NYC without even getting a meeting? Terrible. If they’d made those moves, their starting lineup would be DeAngelo, Hardaway, RJ Barrett, KP, Mitchell Robinson. I’d like to have seen Atkinson coach that lineup.
Would’ve been a great line up