D’Angelo Russell asked one question before re-signing with Lakers

D'Angelo Russell has flipped the script on the public perception of his ability to make a high-profile impact for the Los Angeles Lakers, a change has been drastic and pivotal to the team's recent success. Before their loss to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night, the Lakers were six games over the .500 mark for the first time since the end of the 2020-21 season.

In December, Russell averaged 10.2 points per game on 41 percent shooting from the field and 32.7 percent from beyond the arc. In January, he increased those numbers to 22.7 points per game on 48.8 percent shooting and 45.9 percent from three-point range. The 28-year-old guard has elevated his own and the Lakers' play, and it may have stemmed from something he mentioned to the Lakers brass ahead of re-signing with the team this past offseason.

As ESPN's Dave McMenamin revealed, Russell "wasn't thrilled" about a Lakers return after being benched in the Western Conference Finals, and told both president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka and head coach Darvin Ham as much. But the question Russell says he posed to the duo after they informed him of their interest in bringing him back may summarize his impressive play in recent months.

"They were like, 'We're going to do whatever to try to keep you here,'" Russell said, per ESPN. "And I was like, 'Are y'all going to let me rock out, though?'"

On the surface, it just seems like a fair question for a player used to handling a decent offensive workload. But since his numbers have improved, he's played differently, more freely. Russell is playing his game and hasn't been shy about it.

He's pulled up for deep, contested three-pointers in clutch situations with LeBron James feet away. And he led the Lakers to an impressive upset after the All-Star break over the Milwaukee Bucks, who stormed out to a 6-1 mark after the break, with James sidelined due to injury.

Russell scored 44 points in the game, including 21 in the fourth quarter, and as he told McMenamin, Pelinka apparently told him the team could use a 40-point game from him ahead of that matchup.

"LeBron's out, Milwaukee's tough," Russell told ESPN, paraphrasing Pelinka's directive. "I could use a 40-ball out of you."

If Russell continues to "rock out" and play his game, it'll not only help the team's outlook for its postseason seeding, but could be the difference in another potential deep playoff run or an early exit.