Lakers' D'Angelo Russell drains game-winning basket, says adversity has simply 'molded' him into a 'killer'

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The Los Angeles Lakers are in the midst of a playoff push. On Friday, the Lakers faced the daunting task of slowing down Giannis Antetokounmpo, one of the best players in the NBA.

The Lakers used the second overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft on D'Angelo Russell. The point guard's time in Los Angeles appeared to end when he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets during the 2017 offseason. But, after playing for a couple of other NBA teams, Russell was traded back to the Lakers in 2023.

Russell has played well over the course of the 2023-24 season, but on Friday night he made the most of his second stint with the Purple and Gold.

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DAngelo Russell #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to making a shot during the first half of a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Crypto.com Arena on March 08, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. ( Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Russell stepped up when it mattered most, scoring 21 of his season-high 44 points in the fourth quarter and hit a go-ahead jumper with 5.9 seconds to play to lift the Lakers to a 123-122 victory over the Bucks.

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Russell's clutch performance was particularly important as four-time NBA champion LeBron James sat out of the game to rest his sore left ankle. James hobbled off the court with four minutes left in the Lakers’ loss to Sacramento on Wednesday night with the latest flare-up of an ankle injury that has bothered the leading scorer in NBA history throughout his 21st season.

After the game, Russell took a moment to reflect on some