D’Angelo Russell signs with Mavericks, opens up about career journey
D’Angelo Russell just landed a two-year, $11.7 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks. With Kyrie Irving sidelined by injury to start the season, Russell has a golden opportunity to step in as the starting point guard right away.
The 29-year-old recently sat down with three-time NBA champion Dwyane Wade on the Wy Network Podcast, where he didn’t hold back about his NBA journey.
Russell painted a stark contrast between his time with the Lakers and Nets. Los Angeles, he explained, simply lacked “structure.” Brooklyn, on the other hand, was “all structure” – a place that taught him how to be a true professional.
“I came from the Lakers where the structure is not the same, and then I go to Brooklyn where it’s all structure and it taught me how to be a professional,” Russell told Wade.
His NBA story began in 2015 when the Lakers picked him second overall out of Ohio State.
But just two years later, they shipped him off to Brooklyn.
It was with the Nets where Russell found his groove, earning his only All-Star selection during the 2018-19 season.
Russell’s praise for Brooklyn’s organization was glowing, calling it “unlike any other.” That’s pretty significant coming from a guy who’s bounced around the league, playing for four different teams throughout his career.
His perspective isn’t just based on ancient history, either. After stints with Golden State and Minnesota, Russell actually returned to the Lakers for the 2022-23 season, giving him a fresh look at the organization. He stayed for two more seasons before being traded back to the Nets in 2024-25.
This second Brooklyn experience only reinforced his earlier impressions about the organizational differences.
Beyond just team structure, Russell credits the Nets coaching staff with teaching him fundamental professional habits – how to eat right, sleep properly, and recover effectively. These lessons have helped extend his career, which will hit the 11-year mark this coming season.
Now the big question is: How will Russell perform in his first season with Dallas? With Kyrie out and a fresh start ahead, this could be a chance for him to prove he’s still got plenty left in the tank.
