Page 17 - Sports Illustrated Kids (April 2019)

D’Angelo

RUSSELL

team
Brooklyn Nets

position
Point Guard

spotlight
Banished after a failed stint with the

Lakers, the former Ohio State point
guard found a home in Brooklyn, where
he’s blossoming into a big-time star.

BY ALAA ABDELDAIEM

e knew the call was coming, but D’Angelo
Russell still had to let it sink in. It was
the first day of February and Russell was
coming off another strong performance,
this time a 25-point outing in a 117–114
H loss to the San Antonio Spurs. The 6' 5"
Brooklyn Nets guard was playing the best basketball of
his young career, so there was no reason to be
surprised when he heard the news.
But as he sat there on the team’s flight to Orlando,
replaying what his coach had just told him seconds
earlier, Russell’s emotions came through. The moment
he’d been dreaming of had just become reality. He
was an NBA All-Star.
“I was in awe on the plane,” said Russell. “I’m a
crier, honestly. I was holding my tears in.” There was a
reason for the tears. At just 22, he’s already

experienced his fair share of upheaval.

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