The Dallas Mavericks will be without Kyrie Irving for most of the season due to injury.
Irving’s absence creates an urgent need for a point guard who can assume playmaking responsibilities as the primary ball handler.
The Mavericks could leave that task to No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, but they signed D’Angelo Russell to fill that role.
Russell brings first-team experience, including stints with the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, as well as an All-Star selection.
However, D’Angelo Russell experienced a statistical downturn last season, averaging just 12.6 points and 5.1 assists, well below his typical production over the past five seasons.
This drop understandably raised concerns about whether Russell could provide reliable point guard play for Dallas, a concern compounded by his occasional off-court issues.
Despite these red flags, NBA analyst Bill Simmons believes the Mavericks will avoid the typical Russell implosion that has plagued previous games.
“You know, there’s D-Lo. He’s your buddy who comes to visit. When he’s only there for one day and by the sixth day you’re like, oh, he’s ready to leave, that’s really great. That’s D-Lo,” Simmons explained.
“D-Lo would be great for just one day. In this case, it’s two months of his first season with the Mavericks, and they’re going to go through all the stages of D-Lo. They’re going to be like, ‘Wow, what a steal. Oh my god. D-Lo had 35 points tonight. He’s great.’
Simmons believes the Mavericks’ concerns about Russell should focus on the postseason when Kyrie Irving returns.
Typically, Russell struggles when relegated to a bench role and becomes dissatisfied with the reduced responsibility.
“Kyrie will be back by then, so we don’t have to worry about the playoff version of him,” Simmons said.
However, Simmons’ analysis suggests that the timing of Irving’s return could actually protect Dallas from Russell’s typical pattern of causing problems in the locker room when he is dissatisfied with his role.
Russell has a history of conflict when players are disgruntled, including well-documented tensions with Rudy Gobert and Nick Young.
The Mavericks hope to avoid this situation while maximizing Irving’s productivity in his absence.