D'Angelo Russell didn't waste any time becoming acquainted with his new Warriors teammates.
He's been working out with Draymond Green recently as well as NBA legend and Warriors' player development coach Steve Nash. But he's also spending time in Los Angeles, where he recently was upstaged by his adorable Boston Terrier puppy, Nino.
A self-proclaimed dog-lover, Russell told GQ Magazine recently in a wide-range interview about how being on the road, coming home to the familiarity of a pup that loves you so much is a feeling you can't top.
"It's like when you go home from college and you got that dog you grew up with," Russell told GQ's Kevin Lincoln.
It's a good feeling -- part of his postgame, decompression ritual. Well, that and enjoying a glass of wine.
"There's a recovery routine I go by," Russell said. "I'm not superstitious, but when it comes to routine and rhythm, I try to do the same things after games. Come home, chill with my guys. May go to dinner, drink a glass or two of wine, talk s--t, talk about the game. Play cards, often. I play cards after every game."
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He's a Spades guy. It's wine, cards and his dogs.
"It's just a whole family vibe that we've got going."
Russell is relatively new to the wine world.
"Yeah, yeah. I've slowly developed into a wine guy. I'm learning as much as I can," he told GQ.
He said he got so intrigued by wine after having it with many excessive dinners -- a part of the lavish NBA lifestyle. He also took a recent trip to Napa to learn more about it.
"We just go to so many dinners and activities where wine's necessary, so I just wanted to take advantage of that and learn it," Russell said. "Why not?"
A cab is what he tends to go for, along with a good pinot noir. And while some like the way the alcohol makes them feel, the Warriors guard said he enjoys it overall.
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But he'll be able to figure out if you're giving him that two-buck chuck bottle or not. He likes the more expensive stuff. Lincoln told him the fact that his taste in wine is refined would be perfect for his new relocation to the Bay Area.
"I know," Russell said. "It's a luxury."
