D'Angelo Russell on Lakers Trading Him: 'Best Thing That Happened in My Career'

In 2017, D'Angelo Russell was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Brooklyn Nets, but looking back, he's really glad about where he's at right now. Recently, the Lakers made headlines for their attempts to get Anthony Davis to join their team, offering up a number of their younger players in the hopes of getting Davis, who is currently staying put with the New Orleans Pelicans. In an interview with Bleacher Report, Russell made it clear that he feels fortunate to be with the Nets as a former young player for the Lakers.

"I can’t imagine what they’re trying to block out," Russell explained. “If [the Lakers] didn’t let me go then, they were gonna let me go now, and I’d be going through what they’re going through. Best thing that happened in my career." Russell has echoed those sentiments before, stating last year that he was "in the greatest place ever."

Later in the interview, Russell explained that he reached out to LeBron James for help on how to tackle leadership. "I actually reached out to LeBron this summer," he explained. "‘What’s the best thing for becoming consistent?’ He’s like, ‘You have to be prepared mentally to go out and dominate every game, and then your teammates will follow that.’” One of his players, Jared Dudley, explained that he's become a great leader since joining the team, but Russell himself would be first to admit that he's asked for tips before.