D'Angelo Russell was asked if the NBA's emphasis on calling fewer fouls when shooters take an unnatural shooting motion into a defender has affected the way he has to play.
The Timberwolves guard didn't want to go down that path, likely fearing if he did, he would be perceived as criticizing officiating and get fined. Instead, Russell brought up another change the NBA made this season — the actual basketballs.
The league switched from a Spalding ball to Wilson this season, and some shooters such as Russell are still adjusting to the different feel. Portland guard CJ McCollum, who is president of the NBA Players Association, said recently he was going to get feedback from players on their biggest concerns with the ball.
"I'm more worried about the ball change than the rules," Russell said.
Russell's shooting accuracy has been down compared to his career and last season. He's shooting 34% from three-point range when he shot close to 39% last season and 36% for his career. He is shooting 38% overall, though Russell averages more three-point attempts per game (8.5) than two-point attempts (8.3).
Russell said the different feel of the Wilson ball is especially noticeable if the ball is new and not "broken in."
"That's a big difference for us, I think, when the ball is not broken in," Russell said. "When the other ball was broken in — or if it wasn't broken in, it still worked a little different. It's an adjustment for everybody."
Russell said the ball hardly ever feels like it's broken in, that if he's using a ball that has been used before, it still feels like new. It's not an excuse for his shooting, he said, though he still is trying to get a good feel for it.
