Is D’Angelo Russell primed for a bounce-back campaign?

A decade into his professional career, former No. 2 overall pick D’Angelo Russell could safely be described as a "much maligned" player. On the surface, that is fair. A single All-Star appearance in 2019 is the only accolade – team or individual – that graces Russell’s Basketball Reference page, a yield that falls far short of his lofty draft status.

Despite only being 29 years old, Russell’s athleticism has deteriorated to the point where he struggles to break down his defender, while he has become one of the worst point-of-attack defenders in the league.

He has his strengths. Russell is a fantastic shooter – 36.5 percent from three for his career - especially off the catch. Over his career, more that 62 percent of his three pointers have been assisted, indicating that he can succeed off the ball. He is a canny playmaker who uses angles, when he can create them, well.

Russell is, in effect, an innings eater who can keep the train on the tracks through the regular season, before getting played off the floor in the playoff cauldron. This season, that player archetype is exactly what the Dallas Mavericks need.

Dallas’ bloated frontcourt is matched only by the paucity of their backcourt rotation, with the ghost of Klay Thompson their only established NBA presence. Kyrie Irving is likely out until January as he rehabs his knee. Max Christie and Jaden Hardy have shown promise but are unproven. Dante Exum has been a fantastic reclamation story but has joints that are made of shortbread. Russell’s runway will be long.

The Mavs lack a genuine point guard. While coach Jason Kidd has alluded to using rookie forward Cooper Flagg as a point-forward – Kidd initiated the ‘point-Giannis’ experiment back in the day – Russell will get to hold the reigns to Dallas’ offense more often than not. And that is where he thrives.

With elite shooters in Thompson and Christie manning his wings, magnificent lob threats in Anthony Davis, Derrick Lively and Daniel Gafford, as well as the presence of Flagg, Russell will have a smorgasbord of options available to him as he directs the attack. The gravity that those individuals demand should also allow D’Lo to use what is left of his burst to attack a single defender, rather than driving into crowds as he has done in Brooklyn and Los Angeles.

Russell has twice averaged over 10 assists per 100 possessions, and barely missed that mark last season at 9.9, despite playing most of the campaign as an off-ball option next to LeBron James. There is a strong chance that Russell could pass that threshold in 2026.

While a Russell-Thompson backcourt may be the worst defensive pairing in basketball, Dallas boasts a monstrous frontline that offers rim protection in spades, and perimeter capability in Davis and especially Lively. Naji Marshall and Exum are solid defensive wings. The Mavs can afford to carry Russell’s defensive deficiencies for the payoff of his playmaking. If Flagg settles into point duties quicker than anticipated, Russell’s marksmanship will create driving lanes for the rookie phenom. Russell’s presence also allows Kidd so reintegrate Irving at a tepid pace and have him primed for playoff basketball, should the Mavs get there.

Dallas will not be asking their new point guard to do too much outside of his wheelhouse: knock down spot up jumpers, create for others and keep a talented core humming. He’s certainly capable of that.

Signed for just the one season at $5.6 million (he does hold a player option), this could be a make-or-break season for Russell. If he can help the Mavs navigate a successful campaign and post solid counting stats, he could find himself signing one last long-term deal. If he struggles to break down his man and his jumper doesn’t fall, he could be about to enter the "minimum salarty" phase of his career.