D’Angelo Russell has done everything the Los Angeles Lakers could have asked for since he was put back into the starting lineup. In a 24-point win over the Portland Trail Blazers, he led the Lakers with 34 points, eight assists, and no mistakes. That game might have been his best.

Russell also shot very well from beyond the arc, making 6 of 11 attempts. He is now hitting 47.6 percent in January. Russell has also been known to pull up from deep in motion just as the Lakers are getting going. When he makes a deep 3-pointer to end a run, the crowd usually goes crazy.

It’s also not a mistake; Russell thinks that his heat-check 3-pointer and his ability to score a lot of points are his NBA superpowers.

When asked about his gift, Russell said, “I’ve always been like that.” “Every player in the league has one, whether they play defense, speed, or something else.

“Ever since I was a kid, I always found myself getting hot during the game. I’d score five or six points right away, maybe ten in a quarter, and then ten to twelve points in the last three minutes of a video game.” It’s just my cool power. “I know I’m in that mode when I feel that way and get into that mode.”

The other team may not be able to defend against those shots because they make it look like things are getting out of hand. But Russell also tries to make plays for other people. For example, he set up LeBron James with a bouncing alley-oop on another fast break, which is something the Lakers guard has been working on.

Russell added, “I told Mike Trudell that when you grow up, you kind of picture yourself doing the moves you practice and the moves you have fun with on the court.” “That was something I’ve done about 100 times and pulled it out of the bag.”

Russell’s name is still being talked about in trade talks, but he has been showing everyone what he can do. And this version of Russell is very helpful to the Lakers.