Lakers' D'Angelo Russell on NBA trade rumors: 'I don't care, at all'

Los Angeles Lakers point guardD’Angelo Russell offered a straightforward response when askedabout the trade rumors surrounding him with the NBA’s Feb. 8 tradedeadline looming.

In a postgame interview afterthe Lakers’ win over the Charlotte Hornets, Russell said that thetrade rumors are out of his control.

“I don’t care, at all,” Russellsaid when asked how he’s been handling the intensifying traderumors. “Show up to work, that’s it.”

Russell shared how his pastexperience getting traded as a Laker is helping him this timearound.

“I can’t control that mycontract makes sense to be traded, so, just play," Russell said."I’ve been here before and I’ve played for the Lakers before, so Iknow what the requirements are for being successful here. So you’repart of the future here if you’re successful and if you're not,then you’ll get traded – and I’ve been traded before [here]. So, myapproach is just a little different – I really just genuinely,humbly don’t care.”

D'Angelo Russell on the trade rumors:“I can’t control that my contract makes sense to be traded, so,just play. I can't control that.”(via @SpectrumSN)pic.twitter.com/GHDD2GHBAf

— BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) February 6, 2024

The 6-foot-4 guard has scored25+ points in seven of his last 13 games. Los Angeles currently hasthe ninth-best record in the Western Conference at26-24.

“I can’t control it, and I justwon’t let my mind go there," Russell added. "I just focus on thisand focus on basketball.

Russell has been the subject oftrade rumors over the past month, with people citing the need tosurround LeBron James and Anthony Davis with betterpieces.

Russell along with Gabe Vincent,Rui Hachimura and even fan-favorite Austin Reaves are names thathave surfaced in possible trade scenarios for theLakers.

Russell, 27, is averaging 17points and 6.2 assists in 47 games played this season.