In a recent ESPN article, Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell gave some candid quotes about the evolution of his relationship with head coach Darvin Ham. In particular, he talked about his struggles during last season’s Western Conference Finals, which led to him being benched for Game 4.
He was quoted as saying that he couldn’t have a relationship with Ham at the time because Ham had a relationship with guard Dennis Schroder that went back several years.
Schroder left the Lakers in free agency last summer, while Russell got a new contract and has been playing very well for most of the last two months. Meanwhile, Schroder reacted to Russell’s comment about his relationship with Ham, and he didn’t seem happy (h/t Lakers Daily).
Dennis Schroder on D'Angelo Russell's comments: "I don't understand it. But at the end of the day, it just shows off immaturity. You're not really mature if you’re just keeping somebody's name in his mouth and just running it. I don't understand." #Nets #LAL #Lakers
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) March 15, 2024
The German native was a key part of Ham’s rotation last season, and he was in the starting lineup for 50 of his 66 regular-season games. He joined the Toronto Raptors last summer, and he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in the deal that sent Spencer Dinwiddie to Toronto. Dinwiddie was subsequently released, paving the way for him to join the Lakers.
With Dinwiddie struggling mightily in L.A. and Gabe Vincent, Schroder’s replacement, only appearing in five games this season, many Lakers fans have wished Schroder would’ve stuck around.
