NBA X reacts to Nets guard D’Angelo Russell fading late in Los Angeles return

D’Angelo Russell left something to be desired at Crypto.com Arena. 

The former Lakers guard, sent to Brooklyn just weeks ago in the Dorian Finney-Smith trade, posted 19 points, eight assists and six rebounds in Friday’s battle against his former team, but the clutch gene was nowhere to be found. In a game tied 11 times with 22 lead changes, Russell missed three shots in the final two minutes, including the last heave down one with just 4.1 seconds left to play.

Without Anthony Davis (left plantar fascia), Los Angeles struggled past this bottom-third Brooklyn squad, 102-101, on a career-high 38 points from guard Austin Reaves. Lakers superstar forward LeBron James added 29 points, eight assists and seven rebounds on 70.6 percent shooting from the field, dropping the Nets to 14-28 on the season. 

"I'm gonna let these guys with experience take the shot,” Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez said in defense of the final possession. “That was a shot that I've seen [Russell] make a lot of times."

Russell acknowledged the respect it takes for a coach to express that level of belief in the NBA, also admitting he could've taken multiple other routes in hindsight. On brand for pundits and degenerates alike, reactions to his anticlimactic revenge game flooded X in the contest’s aftermath. 

NBA X on DLo's 4Q v. LAL

@LakeShowYo: “D’Angelo Russell almost became Public Enemy #1 in Los Angeles.”

@LakersLegacyPod: “Lakers survive the DLo Revenge Game. He's still a Laker deep down. He'll still get a ring if the Lakers win this year. He knew what had to be done.”

@ZGSportsMedia: “D’Angelo Russell wanted to hit this sooooo bad.”

@HoodiiBron: “D’Angelo Russell in the final 2 minutes: 0/3 FG, 0/2 3FG, missed game winner. He finally helped the Lakers for once.”

@LVstackiN: “LeBron knows DLo cost him a championship when they went to WCF and DLo didn't show up. The Lakers would have killed the Heat that year.”

@RealSkipBayless: “D’Angelo Russell had 3 late shots to beat his old team in LA, missed all 3. Big nights for Austin Reaves and LeBron without AD. YET THE LAKERS ALMOST LOST TO THE NETS. SOMETHING NOT RIGHT HERE.”

@TheXavierJoseph: “D'Angelo Russell wanted to go viral.”

@HaterReport_: “D’Angelo Russell had a chance to do the funniest thing ever.”

It’s All A Blur Tour

Russell still hasn’t completely processed the move.

“It’s just a blur,” Russell referred to his second stint in Los Angeles. “I think coming in I was locked in to what I had to achieve personally to be there. To not be there now obviously is something that you try to get over and just try to move past.”

The Lakers drafted Russell out of Ohio State with the 2015 No. 2 overall pick, later sending him to Brooklyn with Timofey Mozgov in exchange for Kyle Kuzma and Brook Lopez in 2017. He reunited with Los Angeles in February 2023 as part of a three-team trade via Minnesota and now once again makes his way back to Barclays Center less than two years removed as a result. 

Through 265 total appearances across five seasons with the Lakers, Russell averaged 15.3 points, 4.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds on 42.8 percent shooting overall and 37.6 percent from three-point range. The 28-year-old point guard will always look back to a home in Los Angeles, a part of his career that could never be taken, yet he has to accept this change.

“I appreciate it, but I'm looking forward to moving on,” Russell added.

Fortunately, he’s in familiar territory. During his last run with the Nets, Russell conducted his lone successful NBA All-Star campaign (2018-19).

Brooklyn is 2-3 in five games with Russell this season.