D’Angelo Russell interested in playing for surprising country’s national team
May 6, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) moves the ball up court against the Golden State Warriors during the first half in game three of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
D’Angelo Russell may be providing an international twist.
According to a report on Friday by BasketNews, the Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell is interested in playing for the national team of Lithuania. The report adds that Russell has already expressed his intention of representing Lithuania internationally in FIBA Tournaments as well as possibly in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
For context, Russell’s wife Laura Ivaniukas, whom he shares two children with, is of Lithuanian descent. That creates a pathway for Russell to become a citizen of Lithuania, which is needed to represent them internationally.
Here are some of the photos that the couple have shared of one another on social media.
The former All-Star Russell, 28, has seen his averages dip this season for the Lakers to a career-low 11.5 points per game. Russell was also recently demoted by the Lakers to the bench after a particularly bad game.
Russell’s streaky, ball-dominant, and one-way style of play means he would be a big longshot to make the United States team for the 2028 Olympics as well as for other future international competitions. Thus, joining Lithuania instead could be a viable move for him, and Russell might even be able to recruit one of the Lakers’ reported trade targets who is on that team.
