Former NBA All-Star guard D'Angelo Russell, recently released by the Memphis Grizzlies, has chosen not to wait for another NBA opportunity but instead made a stunning decision to leave the league. He has now signed with CBA powerhouse Shanghai Sharks and will make his CBA debut next season, playing alongside Taiwanese star Liu Zheng.

　　Russell was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. His career has included stints with the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Dallas Mavericks. His most brilliant period came in the 2018-19 season with the Nets, where he showcased elite playmaking skills and earned his first NBA All-Star selection. Last season, he played only 26 games with the Mavericks, averaging a career-low 10.2 points and 4.0 assists while his three-point shooting percentage dropped to 29.4%.

　　During the offseason, Russell exercised his player option and was sent to the Grizzlies in a complex six-team trade, but Memphis immediately waived him as part of a roster trim. After becoming a free agent, Russell quickly decided to go overseas and is expected to arrive in China and report to his new team as early as next week.

　　Russell's arrival undoubtedly sends shockwaves through the CBA. As last season's CBA champions, the Shanghai Sharks boast a star-studded roster featuring national team stalwarts like Wang Zhelin, Zhang Zhenlin, and Li Hongquan, as well as Chinese Taipei national team core Liu Zheng. Now with a former No. 2 pick point guard on board, Shanghai's lineup receives an epic boost, making Russell the biggest weapon for the Sharks' quest to defend their title and achieve a dynasty.