D’Angelo RussellWorld Health Organization JJ Redick moved to the Lakers’ second unit earlier in the day on Friday, responded with 18 points for a bench that desperately needed an offensive punch and helped the Lakers beat Philadelphia 116-106.
“I just wanted to win,” Russell said in his first response postgame. “So whatever it takes, change of plans, whatever it is, whatever Coach needs, try to get the win and be a part of that.”
In each of his next two responses, he repeated the phrase.
“I just want to win,” he said.
Read more: A critical decision by JJ Redick pays off for the Lakers’ victory over the 76ers
Russell, in the final year of a two-year, $36 million contract, has gotten off to a slow start this season under Redick’s offense while taking fewer shots per game than ever before in his career. His usage is also at a career low.
“I think I’m trying to make myself within what we’re trying to do. And that’s the adjustment. That’s what I was trying to figure out,” Russell said. “But as far as taking it all personal and giving you something, I really don’t have anything. My approach was to be professional from day one. And I commit to it by not playing, by coming off the bench, by whatever it may be. I am selfless.
“So I just want to win.”
Redick’s decision came after he sat Russell for most of the second half in the team’s upset loss to Memphis to end their five-game road trip. The Lakers lost four of those games.
He said the lineup change was “fluid.”
Friday against Philadelphia, Reddick started Cam Reddish. Red gave the Lakers more size and physicality defensively and Russell responded with one of his best shooting nights of the season.
“I thought both of those guys starred in the roles they had tonight. Cam took one shot in 27 minutes but had a huge impact on the game defensively. Paul George never went at any point in the game,” Redick said. “… And then for D-Lo, I thought he started in that role as well. Big time pop for us from the bench. A really effective night for him. And he just played really good basketball.”
The change mirrored moves that the Lakers made a year ago when then coach Darvin Ham benched Austin Reavesand later Russell, to get more defense in the starting lineup and more offensive juice with the bench.
The Lakers are 29th in the NBA with 21.9 bench points per game. They are last in rebounds and assists by bench players as well.
After Friday’s win, Redick praised the group for the increase in energy and effort, two areas he called out the roster after their loss to the Grizzlies.
In Russell, Redick has long said he forged a strong bond with the former All-Star guard and got total buy-in. Friday, that was no different.
“I’m not surprised that he approached the game the way he did and that he had the performance he had,” Redick said. “Again, we asked him to do things. He was … accepting the role. He talked to me all the time. He has a really strong desire to win and he has a really strong desire to be coached. And our communication level since June 20thth [the day Redick was hired] to date has been nothing but open, honest and transparent. And I would assume it will continue to be.
“But he even just came to our meeting today, just professional, great attitude, all the things you want. And you see it all the time in the league where guys can take that the wrong way. Like it’s some kind of punishment – like playing the victim – and D-Lo did none of that. And that’s part of the reason he had the game he had.”
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
