The Los Angeles Lakers shook the NBA by trading D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. This move reunites Russell with the Nets, where he last played five years ago. It also marked the second time the Lakers have sent him to Brooklyn, the first being ahead of the 2017-18 season.
In his second stint with the Nets, Russell wasted no time reclaiming his iconic No. 1 jersey, which had been worn by teammate Ziaire Williams. The process, however, wasn’t straightforward. Russell recently opened up about the jersey switch.
“Conversation and then had he kind of agreed. It wasn’t easy for him. I just tried to work with him, whatever I could do to get the number and fall back into what I know,” Russell said. “Shoutout to him for allowing me to do that. I mean to have a player or teammate like that.”
“It wasn’t easy for him. I just tried to work with him, whatever I could do to get the number and fall back into what I know.”
— The Joesen One (@Joe_Martin13) January 1, 2025
D-Lo adds that it wasn’t free and he won’t disclose how much Ziaire received to get his #1 back👀💰 pic.twitter.com/LkK6F6mr74
While Russell successfully secured his desired number, it came at a price. The Nets’ new star revealed that the exchange wasn’t free but declined to disclose how much Williams received in return.
D’Angelo Russell Reflects On Brooklyn Return Ahead of Debut
D’Angelo Russell shared his thoughts on rejoining the Brooklyn Nets ahead of his first game back, facing the Toronto Raptors. He reflected on the changes since his last stint with the team, expressing both excitement and determination to adapt.
“Things have changed quite a bit since I was last here. I’m working hard to learn the new players, coaching strategies, and Brooklyn’s revamped system. Every trade brings a period of adjustment, but being back feels comfortable. Seeing familiar faces makes acclimatizing easier, and I couldn’t be more thankful for that,” Russell said.
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The Nets took on the Toronto Raptors in Russell’s debut game, which ended in a tough 130-113 loss. Despite the team’s struggles, Russell finished the game with 22 points, two rebounds, and eight assists.
