Confidence 'through the roof,' D'Angelo gets honest amidst trading rumors

Last season the Los Angeles Lakers were getting close to having another disastrous campaign following the now infamous 2021-22 season with the arrival of PG's Russell Westbrook and injuries significantly affecting the group coached by Frank Vogel.

For the 2022-23 campaign, the Lakers front office was unable to make a trade in the offseason including Russell Westbrook which was part of the reasons the team wasn't working, this time with first-time head coach Darvin Ham until Pelinka made the now famous trade deadline moves, which included the return of PG D'Angelo Russell to LA.

This season hasn't been easy for D'Lo as he has become the current scapegoat ever since underperforming in the 2023 playoffs WCF against the Denver Nuggets, and now even when he has been playing great all season, specifically the last seven games, where he has been giving a monstrous performance after another monster performance, rumors have Pelinka looking an upgrade over him in the PG position.

D'Lo has scored at least 27 points in four of the last five games while shooting a ridiculous 56.5% from deep over that span. It has all coincided with the point guard’s return to the Lakers starting lineup. Russell’s hot shooting has helped open up the offense immensely and his confidence is at a high point right now, which he feels is rubbing off on his teammates as well.

D'Angelo Russell has spoken about where his confidence is despite the trading rumors

“I think just helping the team get wins. I have a lot of fun out there whenever I’m making shots like that,” Russell said after the win over the Chicago Bulls. “I have a lot of fun doing it, so just trying to showcase it. It’s contagious, I think everybody kind of started shooting with that confidence a little bit and it just makes us that much harder to guard. My confidence is through the roof right now and I’m gonna keep it there. It’s always good to have that.”