What It Means:

Russell has been working out "every day" since L.A.'s season ended, and he's poised to enter next year with a sizable chip on his shoulder. "It's a dedication thing," he said. When asked about Luke Walton as his new head coach, D-Lo didn't hesitate to provide an emphatic endorsement. "I’m beyond happy," Russell said. "I’ve heard so much about him. Kobe [Bryant] even said Luke is one of the top two coaches in this league in this day and age. I’m just looking forward to being coached and pushed." Russell also cited Walton's ability to be relatable, something Byron Scott often struggled with during his coaching tenure in Los Angeles. With Kobe no longer in the picture, all eyes will be on Russell during his sophomore campaign.

Russell had a nERD of -9.8 this past season, which was worse than every player in the league outside of Emmanuel Mudiay, and Russell's former teammate Kobe Bryant. Russell played well at times, but was inconsistent. He finished the season averaging 13.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 28.2 minutes per game. His Effective Field Goal Percentage was 47.8 percent during his rookie season.