Jason Kidd just silenced false Mavericks narrative swarming D'Angelo Russell

The Dallas Mavericks' training camp is underway as the team starts a new era of basketball. The team is set for a fresh start and ready to move past last season's heartbreak. Cooper Flagg now joins a team full of talent, as he'll look to be mentored by Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving in his first year.

D'Angelo Russell also joins the list of players mentioned above. He'll likely be the team's starting point guard temporarily until Irving returns from an ACL injury. His role will be a huge part of the Mavs' upcoming success, as his power to hold the fort down will determine the Mavs' playoff positioning early on in the season. Yet, there are doubters in Russell's ability to impact winning due to his past failures in his other stops.

Jason Kidd has quieted those past nonbelievers in Russell. Recently, Kidd spoke to the media after the team's first training camp. Let's say he spoke highly of Russell's ability to lead the team in Irving's absence. Kidd's recent comments effectively shut down the idea that Russell is not a true winner.

D'Angelo Russell's past demons might be a thing of the past

As mentioned, Russell has had his share of struggles. Last season, he averaged a career low of 12.6 points per game. He failed to replicate his past success because of his 3-point shooting. Russell shot a low 31.4 percent from long range during the 2024-25 season. It was a dramatic decline from two seasons ago when he shot 41.5 percent from the 3-point line. So, it's clear he needs to be more efficient from downtown.

However, Russell has already taken the next step to be more effective. Coach Kidd, as mentioned, spoke highly of Russell's improvement this offseason. His quote from training camp is something that should encourage fans about Russell and his fit with the team. The Dallas Hoops Journal has more on Kidd's comments.

"Day one, he was great," Kidd said. "Being new, sometimes you can be hesitant to talk, but I thought his voice with his new teammates was at a high level, and we needed that. He's a vet. His skillset is extremely high, but I thought his voice was really good today."

This is the exact comment fans want to hear. It seems Russell is fitting in perfectly with the team and has already taken that next leap to make his presence known. It shuts down any idea that he is not a true winner and doesn't have what it takes to lead the Mavs' offense.

For example, last season, Russell was removed from the Lakers' rotation primarily because of his poor shooting and inconsistent playmaking. His decline and inconsistent level of play were some reasons he was traded to Brooklyn. Russell, though, failed to progress and improve during his time with the Nets.

This is why Dallas' signing Russell was a huge risk. There is reason to worry that handing him the team's offense could be a huge risk due to his drastic decline. If he hopes to show any sort of improvement, then this would be a failure for a team with high championship aspirations. So, Russell will need to turn the clock back to prove others wrong.

Kidd's statement, though, demonstrates Russell is already taking the necessary steps to regain his old form. His veteran experience and leadership prove he is the perfect person to handle things until Irving returns. All that's missing is for fans to witness his improvement in action.

So, good things seem to be coming from Russell's time in Dallas. He seems to have blocked out the criticism and focused on helping the Mavs get back to their winning ways. Russell has already proven he wants to win in Dallas. His demonstration of leadership skills can only mean good things are coming this season.