Overview

• After signing a two-year, $11.7 million contract with Dallas following the 2024-25 season, Russell is slated to start at point guard while Kyrie Irving recovers from an ACL injury.
• On the Wy Network podcast, Russell contrasted the Lakers’ loose organizational culture with the Nets’ structured approach.
• He praised the Nets for instilling professional habits—such as proper sleep, nutrition and recovery—that he said he lacked during his early years in Los Angeles.
• Drafted second overall by Los Angeles in 2015, Russell struggled in his first two seasons before breaking out in Brooklyn, where he earned his sole All-Star selection in 2019.
• His comments underscore the impact of franchise structure on player development as he embarks on a new chapter with the Mavericks.