Brooklyn Nets guard Dennis Schroder told NBA reporter Brian Lewis of The New York Post that Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell is immature.
Schroder and Russell were teammates on the Lakers last season.
During an interview with NBA reporter Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Russell said Schroder’s close relationship with Lakers head coach Darvin Ham prevented him from having a relationship with Ham.
Schroder and Ham were on the Atlanta Hawks together. Ham benched Russell in the 2023 Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets, a series the Lakers lost in four games.
“His relationship with Darvin is the reason I couldn’t have a relationship with Darvin,” Russell said. “When I was struggling, I would’ve been able to come to the coach and say, ‘Bro, this is what we should do. Like, I can help you.’ Instead, there was no dialogue. … I just accepted it. And we got swept and I’m here and he’s not. And I like our chances.”
The Lakers re-signed Russell last summer on a two-year deal. Meanwhile, Schroder signed with the Toronto Raptors. Schroder appeared in 51 games with the Raptors before getting traded to the Nets.
Russell and Schroder talked trash to each other on January 9 when the Raptors lost to the Lakers. There’s no love lost between the two guards.
Russell is averaging 17.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 6.2 assists for the Lakers this season while shooting 46.8% from the field, 42.2% from 3 and 79.7% from the free-throw line.
Meanwhile, Schroder is averaging 13.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists with the Raptors and Nets while shooting 44.7% overall, 38.2% from beyond the arc and 82.1% from the foul line.
The Lakers take on the Nets in Brooklyn on March 31. It will be fascinating to see how Russell and Schroder interact during that game.
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