Earlier this season, the Brooklyn Nets appeared to be heading toward a rebuild, seemingly positioning themselves for a high draft pick. However, their young core has defied expectations, keeping them in contention for a play-in tournament spot.
They currently sit just 1.5 games behind the 10th-place Chicago Bulls, making a late-season push for the postseason a real possibility.
A key factor in their resurgence has been the impact of D’Angelo Russell, who returned to the franchise in a midseason trade with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Russell, who previously led the Nets to an unexpected playoff berth five years ago, is once again proving to be a difference-maker.
Since rejoining the team, he has averaged 14.5 points and 5.8 assists over 16 games, providing a much-needed spark as Brooklyn aims to secure a postseason spot, Brian Lewis of the New York Post reports.
“Last time it just … kind of happened,” Russell said. “So I think if it’s gonna happen, it will. We definitely have the chance. We definitely have a nice group, definitely have all the coaches and everything to give it that. So we’ll keep preparing like that’s in the plans.
“But as far as getting ahead of myself and trying to do things out of the ordinary, that’s not really … it’s kind of out of my control, I would say. So [we’ve] just got to go one game at a time, one win at a time.”
Eastern Notes: Williams, Russell, Suggs, Banchero, Knicks Report Card https://t.co/Gr5gz9uxr4 pic.twitter.com/XmaGsqCaM0
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) February 19, 2025
