D'ANGELO RUSSELL AGREES DEAL WITH SHANGHAI SHARKS IN CHINA

D'Angelo Russell has reportedly agreed to sign with the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association, ending an 11-year run in the NBA, according to reports. The move comes days after the Memphis Grizzlies released him from their roster. Russell is expected to become Shanghai's point guard for the 2026-27 season, marking his first spell playing professionally outside the United States. He had entered the NBA in 2015 as the second overall pick in that year's draft.

Russell was traded from the Washington Wizards to the Grizzlies during the offseason but was waived before playing a single game for Memphis, according to reports, with the Grizzlies absorbing his $5.9 million salary. Reports indicated Russell had hoped to sign with a side competing for a play-off place before instead agreeing to move to China. His role had diminished over spells with the Wizards, the Dallas Mavericks and the Grizzlies across the past two seasons, according to reports. Limited interest from NBA clubs left the Chinese Basketball Association as his next destination, reports said. The league has a history of offering substantial contracts to import players, according to reports.

The Shanghai Sharks are set to have Russell as their franchise point guard heading into the 2026-27 Chinese Basketball Association season, according to reports. His departure closes an NBA chapter that began with his selection second overall in 2015 and included his most recent spells with the Wizards, Mavericks and Grizzlies. Contract details for the Shanghai deal, including its length and value, have not been disclosed in reports so far. It remains unclear whether Russell intends to return to the NBA in future seasons, according to reports.