As D’Angelo Russell begins his first season with the Dallas Mavericks in the second unit, coach Jason Kidd bluntly weighed in on his expected role in Kyrie Irving’s absence.
Upon signing a two-year, $11.7 million contract with Dallas in early July, Russell was widely projected to be the team’s interim starting point guard until Irving returns from a torn left ACL, potentially around January. However, after experimenting with 2025 No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg at point guard in preseason, Kidd opted to give the 18-year-old the lead ball-handling duties, casting doubt on Russell’s Year 10 outlook.
While a sixth-man designation seems likely for the one-time All-Star, according to Kidd, even that isn’t set in stone.
How Does Jason Kidd View D’Angelo Russell To Start the 2025-26 NBA Season?
Ahead of Wednesday’s season-opening home clash against the San Antonio Spurs, Kidd was asked if he had an “ideal situation or circumstance” in mind for Russell. The veteran coach avoided pigeonholing the 29-year-old playmaker into a specific spot on the depth chart. Still, he noted that Russell may not always be one of the first couple of guys to check in.
“Just keeping him as a basketball player. We’re not looking at starter or sixth man; he’s going to get enough minutes to help us win,” Kidd said. “That’s why he’s here. That’s what we believe. His skill set, being able to set the table for his teammates and then also being able to score.
“So, we’re not going to label him as a sixth man; we’re going to use him as a basketball player. There could be nights where he starts, and there could be nights that he’s seventh or eighth coming off the bench.”
Jason Kidd on how he’s looking to utilize D’Angelo Russell:
“Just keeping him as a basketball player. We’re not looking as starter or sixth man, he’s going to get enough minutes to help us win. That’s why he’s here…We’re not going to label him as a sixth man, we’re going to use… pic.twitter.com/2oZelT57DX
— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) October 23, 2025
Such fluctuating responsibilities may be a tough sell for a player who was likely hoping to start on a competitive team and has been a starter in 536 of his 629 career outings. Even so, Russell insisted Wednesday that he remains focused on making a winning impact.
“I just want to be a basketball player whenever I get in the game,” Russell said. “It just comes down to winning and finishing the game, however I can help. Finish a game, if need be, and always impact winning is my goal as well.”
D’Angelo Russell was asked how he’d feel in a 6th man role:
“I just want to be a basketball player whenever I get into the game. It just comes down to winning and finishing the game, however I can help. Finish a game, if need be, and always impact winning is my goal as well.” pic.twitter.com/mQ67R5jlrT
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) October 22, 2025
As things stand, the Mavericks appear to be prioritizing size and versatility, beginning the 2025-26 campaign with a starting five of players 6’5″ or taller (Flagg, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II). With Flagg in the mix and Davis better acclimated, they will look to build on last season’s 39-win finish.
