D’Angelo Russell has been at the center of Lakers trade rumors all offseason, with the possibility that he might not wear the purple and gold this year. In June, The Athletic’s Jovan Buha reported that Rob Pelinka’s front office was “expected to be aggressive” in pursuing a trade for D’Lo. Amid the uncertainty, Russell found a way to fuel his game, and it was none other than Mavericks star Kyrie Irving who inspired him.

Kyrie has been a fan favorite since entering the league, though his popularity took a hit after leaving the Celtics and facing controversy over alleged anti-Semitic remarks. Despite this, his core fanbase remains loyal, and it seems Russell has joined their ranks. Recently, Kyrie visited China, and a video of him signing autographs for his Asian fans went viral, with the NBA community appreciating the mutual admiration between Irving and his international supporters.

Fans kept tossing their belongings, eager to have Kyrie Irving’s autograph on cherished items. Despite the rush, the Mavs star remained calm, patiently signing everything from t-shirts to shoes with a smile. His composed interaction with fans also served as inspiration for Lakers point guard D’Angelo Russell. The ex-NBA All-Star showed some respect to his source of inspiration as he responded to the snippet of the incident, “This so 🔥🔥🔥🔥.” It is not the first time when D’Angelo Russell has shown his admiration for Kyrie. Even during September 2021, he posted a cryptic tweet that stated, “Kyrie is Goated.” Though it was not clear why DLo did so, the hoop fans assumed it was all in goodwill. 

Nevertheless, DLo openly shared his thoughts, even though his brand competes directly with Kyrie’s endorsed brand, Anta!  The Lakers star has been sporting Chinese sportswear Li-Ning’s shoes on the court since 2019. He joined hands with Li-Ning post-Dwyane Wade era as the torchbearer for the company’s NBA representation. On the other hand, Irving signed a five-year deal with Anta in July 2023 and launched his signature shoe line.

Both Anta and Li-Ning are the biggest domestic rivals in China’s sportswear domain. However, Li-Ning is yet to compete for the top spot as Anta is the biggest sports equipment in the world by revenue. Despite this ‘rival loyalty’ D’Angelo Russell opted to show his support for his fellow NBA star rather than ignoring him. However, he can’t dodge past his trade rumors as they seem dim but not impossible.

D’Angelo Russell can still get traded this deep into the offseason!

The NBA Cup is about to kick off next month, and the possibility of a D’Angelo Russell trade might seem faint. However, as the Lakers committed in June, they are adamant about improving the roster equation. They have not got any significant stars during the whole offseason. So, the only option for Rob Pelinka and his front office is to add the assets and eliminate the burden on the Lakers squad. Surprisingly, D’Angelo Russell might get a trade suitor in the Eastern Conference even this late into the offseason.

As per Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer’s update in July, “The Nets have been open to welcoming Russell back to Barclays Center since this past trade deadline.” So Brooklyn Nets can be a landing spot for D’Lo. They have been hunting for a point guard holding a spot among the Top 30 point guards in the NBA. Also, they need someone to score, create basket opportunities, and be the lead for offense. D’Angelo Russell fits this profile as he played two of the best seasons of his career with the Nets.

He left the Nets averaging 21.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 7 assists in 2019. So it won’t be a surprise if the Lakers make a move and sign the final deal with Brooklyn. Will Rob Pelinka make this speculated trade a success? Let us know in the comments!

Before leaving, do watch the Dual Threat Show hosted by BG12 where Bulldogs’ Asia Avinger details her experience with Kobe Bryant, her WNBA ROTY picks, and more in the video below.