Former NBA All-Star D’Angelo Russell is moving to China after signing a deal with the Shanghai Sharks.
Former NBA All-Star D’Angelo Russell is taking his talents overseas for the 2026-27 season.
The 30-year-old guard has agreed to a deal with the Shanghai Sharks of the CBA, with this being his first experience outside of the U.S. in his career.
The former Los Angeles Lakers star hit the free agency market after being released by the Memphis Grizzlies last week.
Memphis waived Russell as part of a roster-trimming move, clearing the way for the veteran guard to sign with another team once he clears waivers.
Russell had exercised his $5 million player option for the 2026-27 season before being sent from the Washington Wizards to the Grizzlies in a six-team trade.
The 30-year-old former No. 2 overall pick averaged 10.2 points, 4.0 assists, and 2.3 rebounds across 26 games for the Dallas Mavericks last season.
Russell has bounced around since Lakers start
Russell entered the NBA as one of the top prospects of his draft class, being selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.
After two seasons in Los Angeles, he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2017 in a deal that sent Brook Lopez and the draft rights to Kyle Kuzma to the Lakers.
His best individual stretch came in Brooklyn, where he became an All-Star in 2019. Russell was named as an injury replacement for Victor Oladipo, earning the first All-Star selection of his career and becoming the Nets’ first All-Star since Joe Johnson in 2014.
Russell later had stops with the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and a second stint with the Lakers before continuing his career with Brooklyn and Dallas.
His career averages stand at 17.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.6 assists over 655 regular-season games.
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