D’Angelo Russell and the Los Angeles Lakers had a successful Saturday night, but what he did following their game against the Golden State Warriors cost him $15,000.
After Stephen Curry’s buzzer-beating shot went short, Russell kicked the ball into the Chase Center stands.
Russell played 48 minutes against the Warriors, scoring 28 points on 8-of-19 shooting from the field and 5-for-8 from beyond the arc. He also recorded three rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
The following has been released by the NBA: pic.twitter.com/I3EJ0XD3TT
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 29, 2024
He nearly cost the club the game, however, as he committed back-to-back turnovers late in the second overtime period before pulling up from 3-point range without hesitation and scoring a crucial shot.
The Warriors regained the lead following Russell’s 3-pointer, but LeBron James sealed the victory for his team with two free throws.
Following the game, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham commented on Russell’s late 3-pointer, saying the point guard “owed us a couple.”
D’Angelo Russell was fined $15k for this 😭
(Via: @LADEig) pic.twitter.com/e2WxeGZaXu
— Kicks (@kicks) January 29, 2024
Russell makes $17.3 million this season, so the fine is unlikely to worry him too much. He has a player option for slightly less than $19 million for the 2024-25 season.
The former first-round pick’s name has been discussed in trade rumors for a while, most notably in talks involving Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray.
However, Russell’s recent great play appears to have cooled talks between the Lakers and Hawks. As the league’s trade deadline February 8 approaches, Russell’s chances of sticking with the Lakers appear to be improving.
WHAT IS GOING ON W D-LO pic.twitter.com/3ulGHVBsRL
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) January 28, 2024
Since being reinserted into the Lakers’ starting lineup on Jan. 13, the former No. 2 overall choice is averaging 27.5 points and 6.4 assists per game, while connecting on 52.3 percent of his field shots and 54.2 percent of his three-point tries. He’s appeared in eight games throughout that time.
The Lakers are presently seventh in the Western Conference heading into their game against the Houston Rockets on Monday night. They are 2.5 games behind the Phoenix Suns for the conference’s final guaranteed postseason position.
