LeBron James Sent Big Message To D’Angelo Russell Before Lakers’ Game-Winner

LeBron James is the perfect hype man and D’Angelo Russell knows it best. The four-time NBA champion may have been the final push in Russell’s brilliance against the Milwaukee Bucks. LeBron wanted his talented teammate to deliver the game-winner and secure a win.

NBA analysts were worried about Russell’s future with the franchise. He wasn’t a major factor in the postseason, but the Lakers decided to give him a new contract. LeBron was the one who motivated head coach Darvin Ham to use Russell in the starting lineup. So, yes, we can say he is a fan.

Russell used the opportunity he was given and became the third star behind LeBron and Anthony Davis. Many expected him to be traded somewhere else, but the Lakers decided to keep him around. It was a good move for the purple and gold.

LeBron is really proud of Russell and everything he has accomplished so far. He never misses an opportunity to praise his younger teammate.

YEAAAAHHHH 9LO!!! @Dloading 😤😤😤😤😤😤😤

— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 9, 2024

Russell grew up idolizing LeBron

It’s interesting to note that LeBron was actually the first player Russell saw play in the big league. The kid from Akron became his idol and now they play together.

“He’s the first person I saw play in the NBA, to be honest,” Russell told the media on February 29.

He was lucky enough to watch LeBron and his Cleveland Cavaliers go against the Indiana Pacers. It was the very first NBA game he watched.

“I was a big LeBron fan,” Russell said, “and he did that signature dunk and I remember crying being at the game as a fan and watching him do that dunk that he always did on the commercials and all that.

“Seeing him do it, I remember crying vividly and that was when I was like ‘This is where I want to be.’ So he’s inspired me without even knowing it.

“He’s continuing to inspire the youth, his teammates. But the youth as a whole everybody kind of looks up to a guy like him the way he paves the way for us on and off the floor.  [He’s] just a true role model so I’m not surprised by anything he’s doing. I won’t be surprised by anything he’s continuing to do and the sky is really the limit for him and what he’s done for this game.”