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[Saba Sports News] Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell has decided to exercise his player option for the 2024-2025 season, the final year of his contract, which will earn him $18.7 million, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Russell’s choice comes just before the NBA’s opt-in deadline.
“I really appreciate JJ’s approach and I believe I can thrive under his leadership, contributing to our success at a high level,” Russell told ESPN on Friday evening.
The 28-year-old Russell, drafted second overall by the Lakers in the 2015 NBA Draft, posted averages of 18.0 points, 6.3 assists, and 3.1 rebounds in 76 regular-season games last season, starting in 69 of them. He shot .456/.415/.828 while playing an average of 32.7 minutes per game.
Despite having one of his strongest regular seasons, Russell struggled in the playoffs and was benched during the Western Conference finals against the Denver Nuggets.
While Russell has opted in, his future with the Lakers remains uncertain. The team explored trading him last season and could once again consider him a trade asset in the upcoming season.