D'Angelo Russell Signs with Chinese Basketball Association Team
Former Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell joins the Shanghai Sharks after being released by the Grizzlies.
D'Angelo Russell, a former lottery pick of the Los Angeles Lakers, has signed with the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association, according to reports. This move comes after his release from the Memphis Grizzlies earlier in September.
Russell was selected by the Lakers as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. During his initial two seasons with the team, he showed flashes of potential but struggled to achieve consistent production. He was later traded to the Brooklyn Nets before the 2017-18 season.
Over the subsequent years, Russell played for several NBA teams, including the Nets, Golden State Warriors, and Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers reacquired him in February 2023 as part of a multi-team trade that sent Russell Westbrook to the Utah Jazz. In his second stint with the Lakers, the former Ohio State standout averaged 18 points per game during the 2023-24 season.
Russell's NBA career has also been marked by a significant off-court incident in 2016, when he was involved in the leak of a video where he recorded his then-teammate Nick Young discussing infidelity. This event reportedly damaged trust within the team.
His move to China suggests a potential end to his NBA career.