Russell on the rise in Brooklyn

NEW YORK－D'Angelo Russell stood high above Times Square, a spot where stars are showcased in New York.

He was front and center on a billboard celebrating the Nets' midseason success, pictured with three teammates who joined him in Charlotte for the NBA's All-Star festivities.

"Brooklyn is having an All-Star weekend," it read.

Russell hopes it will turn into a playoff season.

Brooklyn heads into the stretch run looking in good shape to clinch the first postseason berth of Russell's career, sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

"I think we're in a great position right now," Russell said.

And after some tough times, so is Russell.

The point guard Magic Johnson didn't want at the Los Angeles Lakers has become the floor leader the Nets need, raising his level of play after injuries to Caris LeVert, Spencer Dinwiddie and Allen Crabbe left them severely short-handed.

Russell had 36 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in the final game before the All-Star break, a 148-139 triple-overtime victory in Cleveland. It was Russell's 10th 30-point game after he had seven in his first three seasons combined.

He was rewarded with his first All-Star selection, as the replacement for injured Indiana guard Victor Oladipo. He led the Brooklyn contingent that included 3-point contest champion Joe Harris and Rising Stars participants Jarrett Allen and Rodions Kurucs, who joined him on the billboard.

"I've said it a lot this weekend that a lot of guys in this league have got a unique path. It sometimes takes guys longer than others. Some guys come in right away and are able to contribute," Harris said.

"But I think you look at the makeup of our Brooklyn Nets team, and it's a lot of guys that were sort of cast off and had a second opportunity."

Few players drafted as high as Russell were cast off as quickly.

The No 2 pick in 2015 had been in the league just two seasons when the Lakers traded him to Brooklyn to clear the way for Lonzo Ball to take over the point-guard spot.

Lakers president Johnson pointedly insulted Russell on the way out, saying he needed a leader at the position and someone who other players would want to play with.

Russell, who celebrated turning 23 on Saturday by tying a career high with 40 points in a 117-115 win over Charlotte, has consistently downplayed the criticism since arriving in Brooklyn, where he has developed traits that Johnson considered lacking.

The 23-year-old had to share the playmaking duties in his first season in Brooklyn, first with Jeremy Lin and then with Dinwiddie. Early this season, Russell was left on the bench a couple times while coach Kenny Atkinson opted for crunch-time minutes without him.

Now Russell is the guy with the ball in his hands during those moments, and his timing couldn't be better. The Nets opted against signing him to an extension of his rookie contract before the season, but Russell should now have the opportunity to cash in this summer, either in Brooklyn or elsewhere.

"I mean, opportunity presents itself in this league. I think you've really got to take advantage of it," Russell said. "And I definitely had a second opportunity to play basketball and be a professional and that's what I'm doing."

AP