On Friday night, the LA Lakers were able to overcome the absence of LeBron James, courtesy of D’Angelo Russell’s season-high 44 points. With James sidelined after flaring up his ankle injury, D’Lo increased his offensive output to lead the Lakers past the Milwaukee Bucks with a 123-122 win. However, after the game, the Ohio State product spoke about what had motivated him during the game, stating, “Public humiliation has done nothing but mold me into the killer that you all see today. I never lack confidence, I never fear confrontation, and I want all the smoke.”

But the “killer” mode was short-lived since he went 13 points on 2-of-5 from the deep during the Lakers’ 120-109 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves right after. In light of that performance, former NFL player turned basketball analyst Keyshawn Johnson might have some ideas up his sleeve to help D’Lo and the Lakers make the playoff push.

Keyshawn Johnson’s plan to help the Los Angeles Lakers make the playoff push

In response to Russell’s statements about public humiliation serving as a motivator, Johnson said in the recent episode of Undisputed, “If that’s what gets him playing the way he played against Milwaukee, then I’ll be a ghostwriter or something, okay? And I’ll put stuff out there if it’s going to help us with another championship. If he’s going to play that way, people should just talk reckless about him.”

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Russell was at the center of trade rumors before the NBA trade deadline. He was reportedly a part of the package deal that would bring Zach LaVine to LA. However, since the Lakers failed to reach an agreement, he remained with the team. But this wouldn’t have been his first time being traded. D’Lo has been shipped four times in his career; one of them was with the Lakers back in 2017 after he allegedly leaked a video of his then-teammate Nick Young confessing to infidelity with his then-girlfriend Iggy Azalea.

However, he once again found his way back to LA in Feb. 2023 and played a crucial role in helping the team reach the Western Conference Finals last season. But, right now, his energy against the Milwaukee Bucks is exactly what the team needs to make a playoff push.

The “killer” D’Angelo Russell is what the Lakers need right now

Since the trade rumors started swirling, Russell has shifted gears for his offensive production. In January, he averaged an impressive 22.7 points and 6 assists per game, a significant improvement from his December averages of 10.2 points and 5.4 assists per game. He followed the impressive run by tallying 20.2 points, 7.5 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game in February.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been streaky this season. Just when they start picking up some pace and moving up the rankings, a slump drags them down once again. However, if Russell can continue to bring that intensity to his game every night, the Lakers will have a reliable third-scoring option in Russell, making them a formidable offensive threat in the Western Conference.

D’Angelo Russell Rises Above “Humiliation” After Steering Lakers Past Bucks