Lakers star: 'Public humiliation' has turned me into a 'killer' on the court

"Public humiliation has done nothing but mold me into the killer that you all see today," said Russell during his postgame news conference. "I never lack confidence. I never fear confrontation. I want all the smoke. I want to talk about it."

Russell, the former No. 2 overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft, has received his share of criticism over the years. After he was traded by the Lakers in 2017 by then-team president Magic Johnson, the all-time great lobbed stringing criticism at Russell.

"What I needed was a leader... I needed somebody also that can make the other players better, and also that players want to play with," Johnson said at the time. 

As recently as last year, Russell was criticized for his lackluster performance for the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals against the Nuggets.

During the series, Russell averaged 6.3 points while shooting 32.3 percent from the field, including 13.3 percent from deep.

Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas was among those to ridicule Russell for attempting only four shots in Game 4 of the WCF sweep.

"I don't need you taking 200 shots after a game, right, and you come to the game to shoot four," said Arenas, via Basketball Network.

No one is criticizing Russell after he propelled the Lakers to a needed win over the Eastern Conference heavyweights Bucks, 123-122.

He's done fine for himself managing public humiliation, but we'll soon learn how Russell does with the public's approval.