NBA IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT

December 7, 2023

D'Angelo Russell

Los Angeles Lakers

Semifinal Postgame

Lakers 133, Pelicans 89

Q. You played a lot of big games at this point with LeBron going back through the postseason, inaugural In-Season Tournament and everything. But do you get a different sense of how he's leading and what is the context of your role in games like tonight?

D'ANGELO RUSSELL: Yeah, honestly, exactly that. It's impressive to watch him just turn it to another gear in these big games. Honestly, he can shoot it better. He's faster. He's more athletic. He's not getting tired. I just don't understand. But it's impressive to watch from the outside looking in.

Q. How did it feel inside the arena? Did it feel almost like an away game with the red and blue court and with the lights? But there was a lot of Lakers fans that made the trip down. What was it like for you playing in this neutral court environment?

D'ANGELO RUSSELL: Obviously a lot of Laker fans in there but to be honest, Vegas is a city where they cheer for just good sports, I feel like. A lot of teams visit here throughout the years and they have built a reputation of just a fan base. Even the Pelicans, they have a good buzz, too.

I think this is great. It's great for the NBA. Great for all the teams here. It's just a big deal. I think it's the evolution of the game and it's successful as of now.

Q. With this being the first In-Season Tournament, are there any former NBA players that come to mind that you think would thrive in this type of environment?

D'ANGELO RUSSELL: I think anybody would -- former NBA players? Who did you have in mind? Who did you have in mind?

Q. I was thinking Reggie Miller but who were you thinking? Kind of a hot take.

D'ANGELO RUSSELL: I think all those players in that -- back in that time would appreciate it. Obviously, the evolution of the game has forced a lot of money to be at stake, so you know, getting an opportunity to pay for your summer in winnings, pay for your All-Star break, so you could even pay for the next two summers with this amount of money that's at stake.

Anybody, I don't know, I couldn't even name anybody. I just think players back then, the pay was different, so to have the opportunity to make a little more money in this environment, I think it will raise the level of play up for sure.

Q. How does it feel to have the possibility to be the first team in history to win the first NBA cup, and also LeBron described Adam Silver as a genius, and what's the impact of the In-Season Tournament so far on the global expansion of basketball?

D'ANGELO RUSSELL: I think it's huge. I think it's huge. Like Bron said, for Adam to be able to put the situation in the season like that and not lose a step, is good for the game. And obviously any city that's playing in Play-In games, you can be in Detroit or wherever, those fans are going to come out. So, I think it's huge for the game. It's huge for the fans in those cities that may not ever get a playoff -- may not ever be able to see the playoffs, so I think it's huge.

I think it's a big deal, too. I think a lot of teams over sports will try to incorporate something like this just to kind of widen the variety of viewers, raising the level of regular-season viewers and things of all that.

So, what he said was right. He's a genius for sure.

Q. You were drafted by the Lakers and had a couple stops elsewhere but came back. It's not an NBA Championship, but what would it mean to bring some hardware to L.A. for the Lakers?

D'ANGELO RUSSELL: I think it's a big deal just to be part of the legacy. I think that would make my legacy a little underrated for the outside looking in. But for my family, my fans, my friends, they know what I've been through here and they know who I've crossed paths with, and to be able to stand next to LeBron and AD and guys like that and win a championship, I don't know if it will go unnoticed to a lot of people but for me it will be a huge deal. I could officially say that I would be a diehard Laker fan at that point, right. It's a big deal.

Q. You've got a couple two-way guys, $500,000. Has there been any talk in the locker room with them saying that you guys need to win the $500,000 for the group? And they got a chance to play today, what has been some thoughts of the young guys and just them being able to get that $500,000, too?

D'ANGELO RUSSELL: I mean, I couldn't imagine their perspective, getting drafted, coming to the Lakers, playing next to the guys you're playing next to, and your first year you get an opportunity to participate in the In-Season Tournament and get some extra coins in your pocket.

I think we obviously do it for them. It's not something we speak on, but we know how big of a deal it is to everybody to be able to leave with that, and that amount of money could change your whole, I don't know, whatever you want to say.

Like I said, for me, it's changing my summer, my All-Star Break. It's doing all that for me just from the games we've participated in so far. I can imagine winning it, what it will do for my family and the people around me, as well, so I can't imagine for them.