D'Angelo Russell: I just want to bring fun back to Lakers



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D'Angelo Russell: I just want to bring fun back to Lakers

D'Angelo Russell says he wants to make the Los Angeles Lakers basketball fun again. Russell, who was drafted by the Lakers at No 2 in the 2016 NBA draft, returned to the Lakers after the Purple and Gold traded for him prior to this year's trade deadline.

On Friday night, Russell had his best game since returning to the Lakers as he dropped 28 points in a 122-112 win over the Toronto Raptors. “I just want to bring that fun back to this organization, bring that laughing factor, bring all of that, and let it translate on the floor,” Russell told Spectrum SportsNet.

Russell went off against the Raptors

The Lakers got off to a slow start as the Raptors were up by 15 early in the game.

But the Lakers recovered from a slow start as they won the fourth quarter with a 15-point margin to seal a 10-point win. Russell was a big reason why the Lakers had a big fourth quarter as he scored 16 points in the final quarter.

"I was just flowing, honestly. Obviously this is my first game back and just itching to get back on the floor, so to get back out there and perform and be back out there with those guys, they were playing at a high level, and to be able to contribute to that was just fun.

I couldn't help but smile," Russell said, per ESPN. When the Lakers traded for Russell, they were hoping he would help them improve their shooting percentage from beyond the arc. In the games Russell has played for the Lakers since the trade, that has been the case.

"He's just super talented. The shots he was hitting in the fourth, it was ridiculous. You got only a handful of guys that take those shots in that situation. So, shout-out to him. Good to have him back. We're looking to keep it rolling," Lakers guard Austin Reaves said of Russell.