D’Angelo Russell‘s NBA journey has been dotted with obstacles since he entered the league as the Lakers’ No. 2 pick back in 2015. He came in with enormous expectations for one of the league’s most high-profile franchises, which was in the process of trying to climb its way out of lottery limbo.
He didn’t always handle the pressure well, and after a well-publicized incident involving teammate Nick Young, the team decided to part ways with him in favor of incoming rookie Lonzo Ball, who had been pegged as the organization’s newest savior.
Russell has been in Brooklyn ever since, but all the work he’s quietly put in is paying major dividends as he earned his first All-Star selection this season and has the Nets primed to make a long-awaited postseason return. As a result, he’s gained traction as a leading candidate for the Most Improved Player award, and if you ask him, it’s already a done deal.
“I’m gonna win that s–t. Watch. Put it on record. I’m gonna win it.”
“I’m telling you, I’m winning it!”
Russell has never lacked for confidence, and it’s showing up in the box score as he putting up career-best numbers across the board. The fourth-year point guard has admitted that getting traded from the Lakers has been a major boost for his career, and he’ll enter the summer as one of the most sought-after free agents on the market.
The Nets currently hold the No. 7 spot in the East standings and have a 2.5-game lead on the eighth-place Magic.
