Stephen A Smith Says LeBron James Does Not Deserve a Teammate Like D’Angelo Russell

It must be tough being D’Angelo Russell. He had a stellar performance through three quarters in Game Two, hitting seven three-pointers, but all that was overshadowed by his lack of points in the fourth quarter and the opposing team’s comeback from a 20-point deficit to win at the buzzer. So, with Game 3 back at home for the Los Angeles Lakers, you’d think this would be the game where they show the Denver Nuggets they wouldn’t go down without a fight, right?

Unfortunately, the narrative didn’t change in the third game. Despite leading at halftime, the Lakers found themselves outplayed by the Nuggets in all four quarters. Russell, who played 24 minutes, failed to make any of his seven shots, six of which were three-point attempts, and contributed just two rebounds and three assists. His lack of impact was glaring, and Stephen A. Smith expressed disbelief at Russell’s poor performance on ESPN’s First Take, calling it an embarrassment.

“You’ve lost 11 straight now, LeBron James played in 10 of those losses. OK, he lost 11 straight to the Denver Nuggets. It’s gonna be 12,” Smith said. He expressed sympathy for LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who together averaged 58.7 points on 59% shooting from the field this series, while the rest of the Lakers managed only 43.7 points on 39% shooting. “Austin Reaves showed us he had a breakthrough yesterday,” Smith noted.

“D’Angelo Russell did show up in Game One and Game Two, but not when it counted. After you had a 20-point lead, you let that deteriorate last night in front of the Laker fans, purple and gold, at the Crypto.com Arena. It’s an absolute disgrace. And remember, this is the same guy who, during a regular season loss to Sacramento, wasn’t aware of what was at stake. LeBron James doesn’t deserve a teammate who prioritizes so little and isn’t that focused. Get rid of him,” Smith concluded.

Stephen A. Smith on D’Angelo Russell missing a late-game huddle while the Lakers were headed to a 0-3 hole 🗣️

(via @FirstTake)pic.twitter.com/epUFF51WSB

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 26, 2024