They say that inspiration comes from all sorts of places. For example, Pokémon started when Satoshi Tajiri, one of its creators, loved catching insects as a child. The Legend of Zelda was also inspired by the childhood home of Shigeru Miyamoto in Sonobe, Japan. While video games have taken inspiration from real life for years, the inverse is also true. Case in point, D’Angelo Russell and his unusual playstyle.
Ever since the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers drafted him in 2015 as the No. 2 Overall Pick, Russell has stood out for two things: starting a meme with his “ice in my veins” celebration and his unique, herky-jerky movements.
Averaging 17.7 points, 6.4 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 56 games this season, you’d think Russell was one of the better athletes whenever he’s on the court but he isn’t. Instead, the one-time NBA All-Star uses movements that, according to him, was patterned from a video game character in Tekken.
you’ll NEVER guess who D’Angelo Russell’s inspiration is 😭
(via @The_BackyardPod) pic.twitter.com/z2fXwv7t55
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) March 5, 2024
In an episode of The Backyard Podcast, the Ohio State Buckeyes standout revealed his inspiration, Eddy Gordo. “The dude on there that was like, he used to look drunk and s-t. That was how I used to try to look. Like it was deceptive. But that gave me that, like, when I see him fight and look like he ain’t,” said the 28-year-old Los Angeles Lakers Shooting Guard, “That’s how I want to play on the court. Hey, it’s a gimme. Oh, it’s a Shamm- you know what I mean?”
Ironically, while Russell isn’t known for his quickness or athleticism on the basketball court, he has above average wingspan and max vertical compared to the average NBA guard. Ahead of being drafted, the then-19-year-old Russell’s max vertical measured at 39 inches, which is higher than Russell Westbrook’s, one of the most explosive athletes the NBA has ever seen. In fact, it’s on par with superstars like John Wall and Jimmy Butler, which are famous for their athleticism and playing above the rim.
A closer look at Russell’s playstyle and comparing it with Eddy from Tekken will tell you that he’s put his inspiration to good use. Like Russell, Eddy doesn’t look like much of a fighter at first glance. In fact, his fighting style originally started as an acrobatic dance. Capoeira is a fast and deadly Brazilian martial art originating from enslaved Africans hundreds of years ago. To prevent capture, the slaves hid the style’s deadly purpose through a combination of cultural customs, dances, and rituals, resulting in its odd movements.
Today’s NBA Superstars grew up playing video games and have crossed over in the past. The Brooklyn Nets Star Forward, Kevin Durant, is a playable skin in Call of Duty. Finally, Lebron James, who recently set a new all-time record for most points scored in the NBA, is also an Icon Series Outfit in Fortnite. You can play as both as well as D’Angelo Russell, among others, in NBA 2K24, one of the worst-reviewed games on Steam.
As for Tekken, the long-running Bandai Namco fighting game series is now in its eighth mainline installment. Eddy Gordo is still around but he’ll be a DLC character this time.
