Three games back into the starting lineup, D’Angelo Russell — who came off the bench for the previous two months — isn’t taking his role for granted.
After dropping 22 points and a season-high eight assists at Memphis on Wednesday, Russell told reporters that he felt like he was simply given the starting role at the end of the season.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say I earned it (back), but for some reason Coach (Byron Scott) threw me back in the starting lineup,” Russell said at Thursday’s practice. “And I don’t want to look back from that. … I just want to build that trust now, so next year he knows that can run with the young guys in the backcourt.