On January 3rd, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continues. In the recently concluded Eastern Conference matchup, the Bucks hosted the home game against the Nets, who are known for tanking. What was expected to be an easy victory turned out to be a surprising 113-110 upset for the Bucks, even with their three superstars on the court, and this happened while Simmons was resting.
In this game, Russell, the new addition to the Nets, started and contributed 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 12 assists in 27 minutes. Adding to his debut performance against the Raptors with 22 points, 2 rebounds, and 8 assists, Russell has achieved an average of 10 assists in his first two games with the Nets, completely revitalizing the team's offensive system. Even the head coach couldn't help but praise Russell's passing vision and high-quality pick-and-roll plays, and core player Thomas also expressed that Russell's addition is great, as he has a high IQ and excels in both passing and shooting.
Seeing Russell's immediate success after leaving, Lakers fans must be feeling very regretful. Pelinka traded Russell for Smith and Milton, whose combined debut scores were not even as high as Russell's average assists, causing doubts among the Lakers players about whether this trade was really beneficial.
It's worth noting that this marks the second time Russell has been sent to the Nets by the Lakers. During the offseason, the management repeatedly used Russell as a bargaining chip, making it clear that the Lakers' future does not involve him. Therefore, there was much concern from the outside world about whether Russell would harbor resentment towards the Lakers. In response, Russell made a full disclosure to the entire league 48 hours after leaving and admitted a fact.
Russell stated that when he left for the first time, he already understood that this is just a business league, a marketplace where anything can happen. Therefore, he harbors no hatred or discomfort towards the Lakers' actions, and there is nothing that truly needs to be let go of.
On the contrary, returning to the Nets, a place that feels familiar and comfortable, where you have some understanding of various aspects, and seeing some familiar faces makes the adaptation process much easier. Moreover, according to sources, after joining the Nets, almost everyone in the team is doing their utmost to help Russell adapt quickly to the team. Finally, in the editor's view, Russell's departure will surely lead to brilliant achievements with the Nets, causing the Lakers to deeply regret their decision.