From the moment D’Angelo Russell entered the NBA as a 19-year-old rookie with the Lakers, it’s always been clear that he’s both a free spirit, and someone prone to a level of candor so honest that occasionally even teammates worry about it. Like at All-Star weekend back in 2016, when Jordan Clarkson interrupted a joint interview both were doing to tell his then-backcourt mate “don’t say anything crazy.”
Russell, 27, has grown a lot since then, but he’s still unafraid to say exactly what is on his mind, or even just blurt out “OOOOOOOO-OOOOOOH there goes that motherfu-” while LeBron James passes him on his way to the postgame podium in full view of live cameras as The King can only shake his head and laugh.