D’Angelo Russell conceded it was “really cool” to equal Nick van Exel’s franchise record for three-point shots in a season after collecting his 183rd in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 136-105 win over the Atlanta Hawks.
Russell scored 27 points – including 18 from behind the arc – as the Lakers cruised to a routine win.
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It took Van Exel 80 games to reach 183 in 1994-95 but Russell has managed it in just 64.
“It’s really cool, honestly, just to know that, to get credit for it,” Russell said. “It’s just really cool.
“I said I don’t want to underdo it, understate it, overdo it. I just feel like it’s really cool to just be a part of something like that. I think I did something like that in Brooklyn as well. Just to get credit for your game and what you work through and showcase it every night.”
Russell showed his appreciation to Lakers coach Darvin Ham, who said his point guard had a “green room, not just a green light” to continue taking shots from three-point range.
Russell added: “I mean, I just appreciate him trusting me to that extent.
“Definitely try to feel like I earned something like that and it wasn’t given. So to know that that’s something I put the work in to do and put the work and continue to do, it seems normal for me, humbly.”
LeBron: 25 pts, 7 reb, 10 ast
DLo: 27 pts (6-10 3pt), 4 reb, 10 ast
AD: 22 pts, 15 reb, 6 ast, 2 stl
Rui: 17 pts, 3 reb
Reaves: 12 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast
Max: 11 pts, 3 reb pic.twitter.com/vJWjuFB3yM— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 19, 2024
Anthony Davis scored 22 points and LeBron James added 25 as the Lakers improved to 37-32 for the season.
Davis added of Russell: “He’s able to get going and fill up the stat sheet with his scoring and it’s a big thing for him, big thing for us as a team.
“Obviously there’s been a lot going on around D-Lo and just to be able to do that and us embrace him and he sees that, feels the love, that’s good for him.”
