Lakers star reveals uphill struggle to break created narrative

Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell. Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Lakers star reveals uphill struggle to break Magic Johnson-created narrative

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 12/18/23

D'Angelo Russell is in his second spell with the Los Angeles Lakers. L.A. originally drafted the shifty guard with second overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Russell's first stint with the franchise didn't go to plan. Russell was packaged in a deal that would send Brook Lopez and a pick back to the Lakers. Magic Johnson, who was then the President of Basketball Operations, noted how he made the trade as the franchise needed a leader.

When speaking on a recent episode of "The Backyard Podcast," Russell shared how that comment from Johnson affected his whole career.

"I remember Magic Johnson was like, ‘We need a leader,’ or something like that," Russell said. "And I was already a natural leader. Like that was just already me and I didn’t even know I was. After I got away from that, I was like ‘Damn, that’s really me. Everything that he said, I’m actually doing that.’ ... I was actually that guy. But he created this stereotype that I wasn’t this guy so then I was fighting that my whole career.”

Johnson is a Lakers legend. He won five championships in the franchise throughout his 13-year tenure. He has also held different positions behind the scenes. As such, Johnson's opinion holds a lot of weight with Lakers fans and the media.

His comments regarding Russell, when coupled with the circumstances he left behind in the team's locker room, would have been like a hammer blow to his reputation around the league.

After he left the Lakers, Russell rebuilt his career in Brooklyn under the guidance of Kenny Atkinson. He then moved to the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he continued to prove himself as a leader and a high-level guard in the league.

Rob Pelinka moved to bring Russell back to Los Angeles at the 2023 trade deadline. Since returning, Russell is averaging 17.3 points, 6.2 assists and 3.1 rebounds, shooting 54.7% from two-point range and 39.4% from the perimeter.

Russell recently helped the Lakers win the inaugural in-season tournament. He will likely be extra motivated to help the franchise win another championship banner, too.

After all, he has to prove his leadership qualities at the highest level, not just to himself but to Johnson, too.

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