NBA star D’Angelo Russell joined the Mavericks to start the 2025-2026 NBA season after it was revealed that Kyrie Irving would be sidelined. After establishing himself with the Dallas Mavericks, Russell recently spoke out about the criticism he has faced since taking over the point guard spot.
D’Angelo Russell Remains Unfazed by Pressure From the Dallas Mavericks Fanbase
Irving’s ACL surgery, followed by a lengthy recovery and rehabilitation process, implies that he will not be rejoining his team this season. In an attempt to address the gap left by Irving in the Mavericks’ lineup, the organization acquired Russell this offseason and decided to give him more playing time as the starting point guard.
While Russell may be a talented guard, he cannot truly be compared to Irving, an NBA champion and one of the most skilled players in league history. During a recent interview, Russell was questioned about his new role with the Mavericks.
Russel has already dealt with a fair amount of scrutiny for his streaky and inconsistent performances throughout the course of his career. Although fans may have hoped that he would be able to carve out a role for himself with the Mavericks, Russell and his squad are struggling and currently hold one of the worst records in the West at 3-10.
Despite his team being second-to-last in the standings, Russell appeared unbothered when asked about his new role coming off the bench. The Mavericks star made it clear that he had only one priority and that nothing else mattered in comparison.
“I don’t care. I’m just trying to hoop. I just try to figure out, you know, my momentum with whatever minutes I’m getting, you know, consistency is all I want as a player, so try to find some consistency in, you know, what’s out there on the table for us.”
“I don’t care. I’m just trying to hoop.”
D’Angelo Russell speaks on his role with the Mavericks and coming off the bench so far this season. pic.twitter.com/UCFiMRiYZ4
— Abby Jones (@_abigaiiiil) November 15, 2025
While Russell’s statements may have come across as positive and inspiring, it does not do much to change the Mavericks’ current situation. Although he averaged a decent 12.2 points and 4.8 assists in 13 games with the Mavericks this season, Russell is making only 38.3% of his shot attempts and a stunningly low 24.2% from the 3-point line.
Russell had the chance to spend 39 minutes on the court during the Mavericks’ recent game against the Los Angeles Clippers. He recorded a solid 28 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals. These are numbers he may not have been able to put up if he were given around 20 minutes of action, which is what Russell has been making do with so far this season.
Perhaps consistent playing time on the court could help him showcase his skills and abilities. Their matchup against the Clippers indicates that Russell has another level to his game. While some critics may claim that he is just making excuses, more time on the court may just help Russell establish himself as a valuable asset to the Mavericks.
