Russell comes to Brooklyn with big ‘chip’ on his shoulder

Ex-Lakers Guard Eager to Prove Naysayers Wrong in New Environs

June 27, 2017 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

D’Angelo Russell is replacing Brook Lopez, the player he was traded for, as the new face of the Brooklyn Nets as they try to rebound from finishing with the NBA’s worst record a season ago. AP Photo by Mark J. Terrill

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That Iggy Azalea-Nick Young thing? Fuhgeddaboudit!

Magic Johnson’s not-so-veiled criticism? It’s falling on deaf ears here in Brooklyn.

D’Angelo Russell’s past in Los Angeles is simply prologue to what he, and the Nets’ braintrust, hopes will be a new beginning in our fair borough, one that will feature him as an emerging young star at Downtown’s Barclays Center.

“There’s been some criticism and some doubts about him,” Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson readily admitted during Russell’s introductory press conference at the team’s HSS Training Center in Sunset Park on Monday morning.

“But I think we’re a positive culture, we’re a positive coaching staff and we’re going to hold him accountable and be honest with him and coach him hard,” added Atkinson. “I think that combination of positive love and then holding him accountable and be honest with him, that’s how young guys get better.”

Russell, a 21-year-old combo guard whom the Nets acquired from the Lakers last week, along with center Timofey Mozgov, in exchange for all-time Net Brook Lopez, leaves a media maelstrom behind in Los Angeles.

He was at the center of several controversies during his two years as a Laker after being selected with the second overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft out of Ohio State.

The Louisville, Kentucky native caught plenty of heat toward the end of his rookie season in L.A., when video he secretly shot on Snapchat of teammate Nick Young speaking about a tryst with a woman other than the one he was dating, pop and hip-hop star Iggy Azalea, went viral.

Russell also developed a less-than-stellar on-the-court reputation with his Lakers’ teammates, and Johnson, the team’s newly named president of basketball operations, cited the 6-foot-5 guard’s lack of leadership skills as a reason behind trading him just before Los Angeles selected UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball with the second overall pick in this year’s draft at Barclays Center.

None of that matters now, according to Russell, who was adamant that Chapter Two of his NBA career here in Brooklyn would change the plot line of the story of his still-blossoming career.

“I think the sky’s the limit for the opportunity,” said Russell, who has averaged 14.3 points, 4.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds during his two years in the NBA.

“We’ve got a lot of great guys around here. Like I said, the front office, those guys do their thing,” he added. “The coaches, they’re just as hungry as the players. And I feel like [when] we put it all together, everybody really wants to win. The one thing at the end of the day is to win, and that’s the main focus.”

Russell didn’t waste any time getting familiar with his new environs, working out at the HSS Training Center on Sunday night in advance of his press conference.

That display of work ethic caught the eye of Atkinson, who is known as one of the league’s top player-development gurus.

“I think he’s got a little bit of a chip on his shoulder,” Atkinson said. “I can see that already. I don’t think he’s boasting about that. He even said, ‘I’m not trying to prove people wrong. I’m trying to control my situation.’

“But it shows by being in the gym and his hunger to get better. I kind of like that there’s a little bit of a chip there.”

That chip, and Russell’s ability to play well with others, namely new backcourt mate Jeremy Lin, could eventually drive Brooklyn back into serious playoff contention in the Eastern Conference.

“[Lin’s] established in this league and I am working to get there,” Russell ceded. “I know I will learn from him and vice-versa, whatever I can teach him would be great too. I just want to compete, it starts with practice, us pushing each other in practice, will lead to the games and make it easier.”

After making it to the playoffs in each of their first three seasons here, the Nets have gone an NBA-worst 41-123 over the past two campaigns.

Those are unseemly numbers for a franchise that has been fighting for relevance on the tri-state area scene since its days in New Jersey.

Russell intends to do his best to put the bad-old days behind the Nets as quickly as possible.

“I can’t wait to help put this team back to where it is supposed to be and we have a lot of young talent, including myself, a group of vets sprinkled in there, a coach that is really hungry,” he noted. “If we put that [together] it will be something special.”

It will be even more so if Russell establishes himself here as a ballplayer, rather than a headline-maker.

“He’s got a clean slate with us,” Atkinson insisted. “L.A. is L.A. This is Brooklyn. It’s a different situation, a different scenario.”

Nothing But Net: Mozgov, who was basically a salary dump for the Lakers as he is owed $54 million over the next three years, may play a significant role for Brooklyn next season along the interior, especially in the absence of Lopez. “We can expect Timmy to be a little bit closer to the basket,” Atkinson said of the 7-foot-1 center, who won an NBA title with Cleveland in 2015-16. “We’ll put him in that dunker position behind the basket. He’s really good there. He’s good at the elbows. He’s got a nice jumper.” … The Nets’ first-round pick in last Thursday night’s draft, center Jarrett Allen, met the Brooklyn media here on Friday morning. The 22nd overall selection out of the University of Texas was a good “system fit”, according to Atkinson. The 6-foot-11 Allen averaged 13.4 points and 8.4 rebounds during his lone season with the Longhorns. “He does everything you want in a big player,” Atkinson gushed. “Runs the court. Defends the rim. Has great timing. Great feel for the game. I was really impressed with his passing. I’m up here pinching myself. We got a heck of a player, heck of a young man. Credit to his family. Looking forward to working with him.”