D’Angelo Russell just made a promise that has Dallas Mavericks fans believing this signing could be something special. After inking his deal with the Mavs, Russell got on FaceTime with his former Lakers teammate Anthony Davis and delivered four words that showed exactly what kind of teammate he plans to be.
What Did D’Angelo Russell Promise Anthony Davis?
Russell was one of the key acquisitions by the Dallas Mavericks as the team filled the point guard void left by Kyrie Irving’s injury. His acquisition further adds to the Mavericks’ solid offseason as they handed Cooper Flagg a rookie-scale contract, while re-signing Irving.
Soon after signing a two-year, $11.7 million contract, the former Brooklyn Nets star was all business as he made a promise to former Los Angeles Lakers superstar Anthony Davis upon becoming a Maverick.
In a video from his ‘The Backyard Podcast‘ that did the rounds on social media, Russell had a crisp one-liner to former Lakers teammate Davis. “I won’t let you down,” the All-Star guard said.
DLo tells AD on FaceTime that he won’t let him down 🥹💙#MFFL pic.twitter.com/uhdWNiKOcq
— MFFL (@Mavs_FFL) July 10, 2025
Russell also told Davis, “Let’s do something special.”
How Will Russell’s Experience Help the Mavericks?
Russell played for the Lakers for the first half of the 2024-25 season before he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets along with Maxwell Lewis and three second-round draft picks, for forward Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. He averaged 12.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.1 assists this past season while shooting 39.0 percent from the field and a forgettable 31.4 percent from 3-point land.
The upcoming 2025-26 season gives the veteran guard a chance to regain his shooting touch as he looks to be the team’s floor general and primary shot-creator in Irving’s absence. The 29-year-old was a man on a mission soon after the announcement, informing GM Nico Harrison about setting up a workout with new teammate Klay Thompson while they were both spending their vacation in Miami.
Over his 10-year career, Russell has put up reliable numbers, averaging 17.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per contest. He’s been a journeyman in the league, playing for the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves, while also spending two stints each with the Lakers and the Nets.
Russell’s chemistry with Davis will play a key role in the Mavericks’ success. Both stars are aware of each other’s strengths, with Russell’s pick-and-roll ability making them a deadly threat. With Davis expected to play his preferred power forward position, it’s interesting to see how head coach Jason Kidd makes his plans with Russell almost certainly taking the starting point guard roleuntil Irving returns.
It was a tumultuous 2024-25 NBA season for Dallas. The Luka Dončić trade to the Lakers earned the team bad press, with Harrison taking massive criticism for the move. Injuries to Davis, Irving, and their frontcourt hampered their second stretch of the season as they failed to make the playoffs, with the Memphis Grizzlies handing them an exit in the Play-In tournament.
