NBA star D’Angelo Russell slammed by Bill Simmons, defended fiercely by Kyrie Irving in fiery exchange

Throughout his decade-long NBA career, Dallas Mavericks guard D'Angelo Russell has experienced a lot of highs and lows, and now he is looking for a fresh start. But recently on "The Bill Simmons Podcast," Bill Simmons publicly lambasted him.

Simmons tried to paint Russell as a person who is excellent during the early days of playing with a team and slowly loses his worth. But teammate Kyrie Irving did not react well to criticism.

Bill Simmons’ blunt take on D’Angelo Russell sparks bold defense from Kyrie Irving

Recently, Kyrie Irving criticized Bill Simmons on the remarks he made about new Dallas Mavericks teammate D'Angelo Russell on Simmons' podcast. Simmons likened Russell to a pushy friend when discussing Dallas Mavericks with Kirk Goldsberry in a discussion about Texas basketball teams.He stated:“He’s your buddy that comes to visit, and it’s really great when he is only there for one day. By day six, you’re like, ah, I’m ready for him to leave.” This remark suggested a temporary reliance on Russell's services during his first season with the Mavericks. He added: “D-Lo would be great for the one day, which in this case will be two months of his first season with the Mavericks, and they’re gonna, they’ll go through all the stages of D-Lo.

They’re gonna be like, ‘Wow, what a steal. My god. DLo had 35 tonight. He’s amazing.’ They’re not gonna have to worry about the playoff version of him because Kyrie will be back by then.”

The Dunk Central shared the message that included Simmons' remark. Irving swiftly refuted Simmons' comments by retweeting it. “Oh Bill,” he said, “you would never say this to Dlo in person and we both know it.”Tensions about player evaluations and interpersonal relationships within the team are brought to light by this interaction.

Simmons offered his appraisal of the 30 NBA teams, including the possible effects of the summer additions and acquisitions, while predicting the 2025–2026 campaign. He mentioned Russell, who Dallas signed to a two-year, $13 million contract at the beginning of free agency to help cover the vacuum created by Irving's injury, while discussing the Mavs. Bill offered a frank assessment of the former Los Angeles Lakers lottery pick's impending time with the Mavs in his DLo talk.

D’Angelo Russell’s winding NBA journey brings new hope and leadership to Dallas Mavericks

One of the most valuable players on the Mavericks is Russell. As Irving recuperates from an ACL injury that he suffered during last season, he is expected to be the starting point guard. The fact that Irving guarded Russell indicates how well the Dallas team works together.Russell is still searching for a permanent NBA residence in his 29th year. He began his career with a directionless Los Angeles Lakers team that was in the process of rebuilding after being taken second overall in the 2015 NBA Draft.

He received his first and only All-Star selection after being moved to the Brooklyn Nets after just two seasons.Before joining the Dallas Mavericks, Russell's career took a rather convoluted path in the following years, including stints with the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Lakers again in 2022. Also read: Nick Young breaks silence on D’Angelo Russell’s alleged cheating scandal with wild and cryptic comments