Russell’s kid Riley was born in 2022, which benefited him both on and off the court. ‘I have a different motivation.’
It’s difficult to persuade a one-year-old to concentrate on anything for long periods of time, but there’s an exception when point guard D’Angelo Russell plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. Riley Russell will most likely be watching his father on television while cradling a tiny basketball back home in Los Angeles, as the Lakers’ playoff hopes hang in the balance in New Orleans on Tuesday night.
“He goes to a lot of the games, but if he’s not there, the nanny or somebody will send a video in the group text of the guys at home watching the game, and he’s just in the mix with everybody,” Russell told Andscape in a recent phone conversation about his son. “He may be sitting on the table, just into the game, celebrating. And he already understands the subtleties of basketball. Pass. Dunk. Shoot. Dribble. He knows when the ball goes in. That is also a nice thing.
D’Angelo Russell’s son was born on September 24, 2022, and it changed his life both on and off the court. until his baby was born, Russell was unfocused on the court and restless as he hopped around the NBA until landing with the Lakers.
D’Angelo Russell, a Los Angeles Lakers guard, dribbles the ball with his kid, Riley, before a game.
Russell and his loved ones were overcome with emotion during the 2015 NBA draft when the Lakers unexpectedly selected him second overall from Ohio State. The 2016 NBA All-Rookie Team selection averaged 14.3 points and 4.0 assists in his first two seasons before being moved to the Brooklyn Nets on June 20, 2017, alongside Timofey Mozgov for Brook Lopez and a first-round pick. Russell was an NBA All-Star in 2019 and finished second in the voting for Most Improved Player. But before Russell could get comfortable in Brooklyn, he was traded to the Golden State Warriors in a sign-and-trade deal that resulted in a four-year, $117 million contract in the Kevin Durant blockbuster trade on July 1, 2019.
Russell was averaging a career-high 23.6 points, 6.2 assists, and 3.7 rebounds in 33 games with Golden State before being dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves on February 6, 2020, for Andrew Wiggins, a protected 2021 first-round pick, and a 2021 second-round selection. Russell was moved back to the Lakers on February 29, 2022, in a three-team transaction that included the Utah Jazz and sent Mike Conley Jr. and Nickeil Alexander-Walker to Minnesota.
Russell finally appeared to have found some stability when he inked a two-year, $37 million contract extension with the Lakers in July 2023. Russell admitted that he had to remind himself to “be humble” as his NBA jersey and address changed. Russell also mentioned that during his NBA career, he learned a lot from colleagues Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Karl-Anthony Towns, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the late Kobe Bryant.
“I’ve been through a lot. I have accomplished a lot. “I’ve seen a lot,” Russell added. “But I’ve also been around a lot of people and had the opportunity to rub elbows with some of the game’s greatest players. I’ve learned a lot from them, and I apply what I’ve learned in these situations. If it’s the mentality, the never-give-up factor, or whatever it is, I find a way to take it from the greats I’ve known and then look in the mirror. I also realized that I am a product of my environment, which has included some of the game’s greats.
“Anything I’ve been through or will go through, I’m ready for and constructed for. I always face the pressure, difficulty, hurdle, or hardship head on. I always enjoy having my back against the wall because you discover a way out of everything you’ve been involved with.”
D’Angelo Russell of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee, on March 27.
Justin Ford/Getty Images.
Russell claimed his life has improved after he and his partner Laura Ivaniukas had their first kid.
Over the last two seasons, the combo guard has served as the Lakers’ reliable third scorer behind James and Davis. Throughout the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, he averaged 17.0 and 18.4 points per game. He also had his greatest two seasons in terms of 3-point shooting and turnovers.
According to the Lakers, Russell joined Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, and Jalen Brunson as only the fourth player in NBA history to make 200 3-pointers, 400 assists, and shoot better than 40% from 3-point range in a single season.
“Frankly, I’ll always have a chip on my shoulder. And once I started training [for the 2022-23 season], I began working hard and delving deeply into my preparation. When I needed to take a break or get some water, all I could think about was my son. I always had the impression that I was motivated by something else. “I have more in the tank,” Russell added.
Russell stated that he adjusted his concentration both on and off the court. Prior to his son’s birth, he was terrified about losing out on social occasions. He stated that after his son’s birth, there has been a greater emphasis on family. Russell frequently uploads photos of his son at home and at Lakers games on Instagram, including one of him in the locker room shaking hands with Davis. He and Ivaniukas celebrated Riley’s first birthday with a Lakers-themed party, with everyone dressed in Russell’s jersey from the Lakers or previous clubs.
“Before becoming a parent, life seemed complete,” Russell said. “But Riley’s entrance filled every nook of our hearts with such deep love. It transformed our world, teaching us patience, resilience, and the true definition of unconditional love. Discover a new purpose in life beyond basketball.
“Before I had a child, I felt compelled to join in on my friends’ activities and see what they were up to. And I always knew I was a homebody. So, once I had a child, I was able to just settle in as a homebody and focus on myself, my foundation, my family, and life after basketball, among other things.”
Russell stated that he was blessed with a supportive father, Antonio, who taught him how to be a father. Russell also sought counsel on fatherhood from James and Davis, his NBA All-Star teammates who each have three children.
Russell announced on his podcast, The Backyard Podcast, in March that his partner is expecting the couple’s first daughter.
“I remember vividly asking LeBron about spanking his kids and all of that and he gave me some very good intel on that,” Russell was quoted as saying. “And then A.D. gave me some solid advise about having a daughter, which I hear. I mentally jot down notes, and everything comes to light eventually. When you asked about it, the first thing that sprang to mind was that I recall those things and hear them. As previously stated, I enjoy asking comprehensive inquiries.
“All my friends have girls, and they say, ‘It’s everything, and it’ll change you.'” Many individuals around me have daughters. I try to ask the proper questions and prepare for it.”
D’Angelo Russell, a Los Angeles Lakers player, holds his son Riley after the game.
Riley is watching from Los Angeles, while Russell and the 8th-seeded Lakers are in New Orleans, preparing to face the 7th-seeded New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA play-in round. The winner will be the Western Conference playoffs’ seventh seed, facing the defending champion Denver Nuggets in the first round. Russell has averaged 21.3 points, 4.3 made 3-pointers, and 3.3 assists in three games against the Pelicans this season.
The loser of the Lakers-Pelicans game will host a do-or-die game on Thursday for the final Western Conference playoff position against the winner of Tuesday’s game between the Sacramento Kings and the Warriors. The winner of that game will face the Oklahoma City Thunder, the West’s top seed, in the first round, while the loser’s season will end.
Russell believes the Lakers will find a path into the postseason through the Play-mid Tournament after making it to the Western Conference finals last season and winning the inaugural NBA mid-season tournament in December 2023.
“The key for us is our determination,” Russell stated. “We all want to return to where we were. We’ve improved, and we can now beat and compete with any team in the league on any given night. So, for us, it’s just about getting through the storm, both good and bad. “Not being too high and satisfied.”