30 reasons to be excited for the 2018-19 NBA season

30. Do-or-die time for D’Angelo Russell

The Brooklyn Nets are in an interesting place heading into next summer. They’ll have two max cap slots, but will also have D’Angelo Russell and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson hitting restricted free agency. Suffice it to say the pressure is on for D-Loading, who didn’t exactly have the breakout year most were expecting.

After being jettisoned by the Los Angeles Lakers, Russell was supposed to become the face of the Nets franchise. Instead, he struggled with injuries and failed to build on his game, averaging 15.5 points, 5.2 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game on mundane .414/.324/.740 shooting splits. He only made 48 appearances as well.

Now fully healthy and entering his fourth NBA season, the pressure is on — in a crowded backcourt, no less — to prove he’s worth a long-term investment for a franchise that has the cap space to woo legitimate stars in free agency. Jarrett Allen might be Brooklyn’s most exciting prospect, but Russell’s struggle to prove himself is the team’s juiciest storyline.