Mavericks’ D’Angelo Russell excited to play with chip on shoulder as Kyrie Irving’s fill-in next season

The Dallas Mavericks entered free agency with an immediate need for a starting point guard with Kyrie Irving rehabbing from a torn ACL he suffered in March. The options were slim, at least without making a trade, but Dallas almost immediately agreed to terms on a contract with D’Angelo Russell, who will serve as a stopgap until Irving returns.

Dallas is coming off a whirlwind season in which Luka Doncic was traded to the Lakers, injuries mounted and the team missed the playoffs after falling in the play-in round. Next season will be about proving this team can leave the past behind and seriously contend. In some ways, Russell joining the Mavericks is the perfect mirrored situation, after he was traded by the Lakers to the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets, ending his second tenure with the purple and gold.

In a video clip where Russell can be seen talking to Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, the former lottery pick is already setting the mindset for next season, as he’ll enter with something to prove to the rest of the league.

“I like me with a chip on my shoulder,” Russell told Harrison.

Harrison responded by saying, “I like you with a chip on your shoulder.”

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Russell had a down season after splitting time with the Lakers and Nets, but is capable of being an efficient scorer and playmaker in the past. Harrison told Russell, “You really fit what we’re trying to do,” and if used correctly he can be the ideal player to have fill in for Irving. Russell won’t be asked to do too much offensively, as the Mavericks already have several guys who can get points in Anthony Davis, Cooper Flagg and Klay Thompson. Russell’s role will be to set the table on offense, pick his spots to score and be reliable enough defensively so that he’s not getting targeted. 

Part of the reason his time with the Lakers didn’t quite work out was because Russell needs the ball in his hands to be most effective, and with LeBron James on the team you’ll always default to him controlling things offensively. Russell can play off the ball — we’ve seen him do it rather successfully with the Warriors and for stretches of time with the Lakers — but he’s most impactful when he’s bringing the ball up and initiating things. The Mavericks present the perfect situation for the time being, as without Irving Dallas doesn’t have another reliable ball handler in the starting lineup. Russell immediately becomes that person, and when Irving gets back, he can either slide to the bench and be the lead guy in the second unit, or split ball-handling responsibilities with Irving in the starting lineup.