It’s hard not to get the feeling that Swaggy knew it was going in.

The post Nick ‘Swaggy P’ Young Hits 40-Foot Buzzer Beater (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

We’ve seen Kobe loudly get after his guys during training sessions in the past—this time around, he calmly gave them buckets instead of calling them “soft like Charmin.”

Metta on Kobe's practice: "He was scoring in people's faces, talking trash." Someone apparently talked trash to Kobe and it fired him up.

— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) October 25, 2015

Turns out there were *two* players who fired up Kobe by talking trash to him at practice today: Lou Williams and, no surprise, Nick Young.

— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) October 25, 2015

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott remains confident that Bryant will suit up in Wednesday’s regular season opener against the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves.

From the team website:

Well, actually, it was loud on the part of an unnamed player on the white team during 5-on-5 scrimmaging, who talked a bit of trash to the 17-time all-star on the purple team at Sunday’s practice. […] “That was the wrong thing to do,” Metta World Peace said.

 

Bryant, who did not speak with the media after practice, responded with a flurry of moves, which — according to World Peace — included turnarounds over both shoulders and a four-point play. […] “We, the white team, won the first game … and then somebody said something to Kobe,” Larry Nance, Jr. said. “Four 3’s later, you can see the score now — (purple) team won. … I think we’ve learned from that mistake: Don’t poke the bear.”

 

Whether he’s a bear, black mamba or any other deadly creature, Bryant certainly impressed head coach Byron Scott, who said his conditioning was “better than I thought it would be” after 11 days without scrimmaging. […] “I told him if he couldn’t go today or tomorrow, I’d start worrying,” Scott said. “He walked out today and said he felt good. Gave me a thumbs up, went through the scrimmage and everything. You could see a little rust, but he was moving pretty fluidly again. It was good to see.”

The post Kobe Bryant Dominated Practice After Teammates Talked Trash appeared first on SLAM.

Young was taken aback by Scott’s public criticism, and has vowed to prove to his demanding head coach that he was wrong about him.

The Los Angeles Lakers couldn’t find a taker for Swaggy P this summer, so these two know they must somehow make their partnership work.

Per the OC Register:

Byron Scott publicly challenged him to either play defense or get comfortable watching from the bench. […] “It was the first time a coach has called me out in the media or, in a larger scale in the media,” Young said. “Because everybody pays attention to the Lakers and L.A. is L.A.”

 

So strained became Young’s relationship with Scott, that the Lakers explored trading him in the offseason. They signed Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams to provide the kind of bench role for which they once counted on Young. […] A week into a new season, however, something seems to be turning for Young and Scott. The coach has praised Young for making a better effort on both ends of the court, as well as with his attitude.

 

“I think he’s made strides in those departments that we talked about on both ends of the floor,” Scott said before Young scored 10 points in the Lakers’ preseason opener Sunday. “I’m going to harp on him all season long to continue to get better at it.” […] “He finds ways to motivate players,” Young said. “And right now I’m very motivated to prove him wrong and prove the world that doubted Swaggy wrong.”

The post Nick Young is ‘Very Motivated’ to Prove Byron Scott Wrong appeared first on SLAM.

TMZ, naturally, has the grainy footage.

The LAPD was reportedly called upon to diffuse the situation, but no one left in handcuffs:

It’s unclear what triggered the fight, but it sent Swaggy into a RAGE. The video shows Young ripping into his buddy, accusing him of instigating the drama … then chucking a water bottle in his direction.

 

LAPD showed up, but the angry group was so large officers needed backup, including an LAPD chopper.

 

Cops asked the group to leave and everyone cooperated. No one was arrested.

The post Nick Young Goes Nuts Outside of a Dave & Buster’s (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

The tenth annual LudaDay Weekend popped off this past Labor Day in Atlanta and lived up to its well-earned rep. The five-day event brought concerts, a block party, and countless promotional events, culminating with the LudaDay X Celebrity Basketball Game. In front of a sold-out crowd at Georgia State, the DJ kept the atmosphere live with hot tracks and once the game started, the amount of NBA talent on the court could vie for the ‘chip against just about anyone.

John Wall, Eric Bledsoe, Victor Oladipo, Cameron Payne, Iman Shumpert, Terrence Jones, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Nick Young, Kenneth Faried, Josh Powell, Jarrett Jack, Cameron Payne, Quinn Cook, Reggie Evans, and KJ McDaniels were amongst the NBA ballers in the game. Chris Brown, Trinidad James, Dej Loaf, and Omarion were a few of the musical artists who laced ’em up. Ultimately, it was Team Luda that walked away with a 121-117 win over Team Breezy in a dope event that benefited The Ludacris Foundation.

Here are a few of the names who stood out in the relaxed LudaDay X Celebrity Basketball Game:

John Wall, 6-4, PG, Washington Wizards

After what was a breakout season, John Wall appears to be in great shape and while he wasn’t going full go, he still showed his ridiculous burners a time or two throughout the game. A regular at the LudaDay festivities throughout the past few years, the Wizards star was the biggest name amongst the NBA players and ended his birthday evening with a party at ATL’s Gold Room, where he was given a $20,000 painting of himself.

Lou Williams, 6-1, SG, Los Angeles Lakers

The League’s reigning sixth man of the year has been a permanent bucket-getter over the years at the LudaDay games. Able to bomb from 30 feet and finish above the rim, Lou is the type of guy who can easily drop 50 in these types of games. While he’s used to coming in and being an electric scorer with the ultimate green light, one has to wonder if he’s going to be given that same freedom playing with Kobe in LA.

Chris Brown, 6-1

Playing in the Drew League over the years, it was always known that Breezy could go a little bit on the hardwood. Running the point with the Oreo IVs on, he showed off a slick crossover and hit 6 three-pointers in his squad’s narrow defeat. While putting out hit records is what has made him a multi-millionaire, he certainly showed that he is likely one of the better-hooping R&B singers out there against a myriad of NBA players.

Victor Oladipo, 6-5, SG, Orlando Magic

While most players went through the game at less than half-speed, that was not possible for Victor Oladipo. A guy known for his insane work ethic, he looked to rip the rim off virtually every time he got the rock in transition. Oladipo nearly sent Georgia State into a frenzy when he back-rimmed an eastbay during the game, showing off the explosive athleticism that has made him one of the league’s emerging young guards.

Nick Young, 6-7, SG, LA Lakers

Fresh off of battling James Harden at the Drew League, Swaggy P made it to ATL to run with some of the League’s best. He was Iggy-less, but still showed off his handle and bombed a flurry of deep threes. With Kobe pack and the Lakers offseason acquisition of Lou Williams, it’s going to be interesting to see what type of role the ’15-16 season will bring.

Josh Powell, 6-10, PF, Milwaukee Bucks

Making one of the more interesting career transitions, Powell went from the hardwood in 13-14 to an assistant coach with the Rockets for the 14-15 campaign. Fast-forward a year and the 6-10 big man still has that itch to hoop, signing last week with the Milwaukee Bucks. A seasoned vet, Powell looked to be in great shape and should provide the same interior toughness to an emerging Milwaukee squad that he used to help the Lakers win two rings.

Big thanks to David Walker for all photos

The post LudaDay X Celebrity Basketball Game Recap appeared first on SLAM.

Prepare for even more heat on August 28—Seattle Pro-Am and the Drew League will compete in the ultimate summer battle.

Related:
DeMar DeRozan Dunks Over James Harden at Drew League (VIDEO)
James Harden Vs Klay Thompson at The Drew League (VIDEO)
Nick Young Hits Game-Winning Three in Double OT at Drew League (VIDEO)

The post James Harden Battles Nick Young at Drew League Championship (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

Young jokes that he felt a little like former Laker Pau Gasol, whose name always seemed to be in trade rumors during his last few years in L.A.

Swaggy P is confident that a thaw will develop in his cold war with head coach Byron Scott next season.

Per the LA Daily News:

The self-named “Swaggy P” has provided (excitement) with his infectious personality. But Young also produced headaches for the Lakers last season when he averaged 13.4 points on a career-low 36.6 percent shooting and clashed with coach Byron Scott. […] The Lakers also failed to trade Young this offseason, leading him to joke, “I felt like Pau Gasol,” who heard endless trade rumors after the NBA overturned the Lakers’ Chris Paul deal in 2011. Young also conceded “he can already see” something similar happening to him next season.

 

Yet, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak recently met with Young to assuage some concerns. Young reported that Kupchak told him not to consider Lou Williams’ arrival “a slap in the face” to Young, even if he is also a high-volume scorer. Kupchak also addressed Young’s disagreements with Scott over his inconsistency, playing time and playful personality. […] “(Kupchak) says, I’m talented, but just work with coach,” Young said. “Work off of coach and make sure everybody is on the same page.”

 

Young also reiterated he has spent this offseason following Scott’s instructions to improve his ballhandling, spot-up shooting and his off-ball defense. […] “This year should be better,” Young said of his relationship with Scott. “Last year we had a lot going on with the team. So there was a lot of frustration. It’s a fresh start now.”

The post Nick Young ‘Felt Like Pau Gasol’ During Trade Rumors appeared first on SLAM.

https://twitter.com/JonesOnTheNBA/status/625436205446922240

https://twitter.com/JonesOnTheNBA/status/625441134009913344

Great game !!!!! https://t.co/2R9ig8HPTL

— Nick Young (@NickSwagyPYoung) July 26, 2015

The post Nick Young Hits Game-Winning Three in Double Overtime at Drew League (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

As recently as last week reports said the Lakers might be ready to unload Young. But according to Bill Oram of the OC Register, the Lakers shopped Young a little bit back when they needed cap space for a potential LaMarcus Aldridge signing, but with that fantasy in the rearview, LA has “no plans” to deal Swaggy.

Heard today Lakers have no plans to trade Nick Young. Called around seeking suitors so they could clear cap room quickly. Didn't materialize

— Bill Oram (@billoram) July 14, 2015

The post Report: Lakers Have ‘No Plans’ to Trade Nick Young appeared first on SLAM.

The Los Angeles Lakers are finalizing deals with Brandon Bass, Lou Williams and set to trade for Roy Hibbert; Nick Young may be the odd man out.

Young, 30, appeared to wear out his welcome last season, as his scoring averaged dipped to 13.4 points on a miserable 36.9 percent shooting from the field in 42 games.

Per Yahoo! Sports:

The terms of Bass’ contract are still a work in progress because it is pending other Lakers deals, a source said. The Lakers have been aggressive over the weekend, agreeing to deals with Bass and Toronto Raptors free-agent guard Lou Williams and negotiating a trade for Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert.

 

As the Lakers work to clear cap space to sign free agents and absorb Hibbert’s contract, Nick Young is a strong candidate to be unloaded, sources said. The Lakers are finalizing details to acquire Hibbert, and there remains a possibility Los Angeles could send a player to the Pacers in the agreement, sources said. The Lakers and Pacers had agreed on a future second-round pick as compensation for Hibbert and his $15.5 million 2015-16 salary getting absorbed into Los Angeles’ salary-cap space.

 

The Lakers are exploring trades for Young, Ryan Kelly and Robert Sacre. Sacre and/or Kelly are possibilities to go to Pacers, sources said.

The post Report: Lakers May Unload Nick Young appeared first on SLAM.

Let’s just say Swaggy had some explaining to do later that evening.

The post Nick Young Can’t Tell Iggy Azalea’s Rap Lyrics from Kobe Bryant’s (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

But as Swaggy P prepares to return for his 10th NBA season, he’s also preparing for a short season guest “coaching” the Swag Champs—a team of local LA talent participating for a shot at $1 million in Ball Up’s Million Dollar Summer Challenge.

With no surprise, he entered the East Valley HS gymnasium in North Hollywood, CA this weekend in typical Swaggy P fashion: posing for pictures, signing autographs and interacting with fans before going full coach mode on the sidelines. Unfortunately, Young’s team took a devastating 85-66 loss in Week 1 and has five more weeks to prove themselves.

We caught up with Nick—who turned 30 and got engaged to Iggy Azalea earlier this week—to talk the offseason, NBA Finals, his coaching style and much more.

SLAM: First off, Happy birthday. What’s 30 looking like for Swaggy P?

Nick Young: Appreciate it! Man, I don’t know. It’s a new experience. I sat back in the house today and I was thinking, “I’m 30 now.” I gotta get on some grown man Swaggy stuff right now. [Laughs]

SLAM: You missed the last 28 games of the season with a fracture in your left knee. How’s the knee feeling now?

NY: It’s feeling good. I’ve been playing pick-up and working out a little bit. I feel all right.

SLAM: The Finals start tomorrow—Cavaliers or Warriors?

NY: I’m going with my man JR Smith. He representing all of us right now—people like me [laughs]. He was killing and that’s so dope. I think it’s going to be a tough series especially with Golden State balling and Stephen Curry. I think the Warriors have a good team now, but it’s something about them Cavs, man.

SLAM: Yeah, you tweeted that JR Smith was balling against the Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals. Offensively, both of you have similarities. Do you agree with Smith’s statement about taking contested shots rather than open ones because they’re boring?

NY: Right? That’s me! I think I made more contested shots than open shots [this season]. [Laughs]

SLAM: Who do you think the Lakers should take at No. 2 in the Draft?

NY: That’s tough. I think they’re going to make the best decision. Whoever is available right there is a good pick. They’re most definitely going to make a great decision.

SLAM: It’s been a tough past two seasons for the Lakers, but with yourself, Kobe Bryant and Julius Randle healthy, and the No. 2, 27 and 34 picks plus free agency—are you excited?

NY: It’s going to feel great. I think it’s something the city needs. The No. 2 pick [is going to mean a lot] because they’ve shined the light on us and I think this summer is going to be a special summer for us.

SLAM: During the season, Byron Scott mentioned some flaws to your game like moving without the ball and your defense. Are those some things you’re going to really focus on improving this summer?

NY: Yeah, most definitely, especially if we get someone in free agency. I know I might have to play off the ball a lot. Hey man, I might have to get my JR Smith role on. [Laughs]

SLAM: You shot your lowest field goal percentage of your career and blamed it on the rim. Have you taken the rim out and treated her better like you said you were?

NY: Yeah, we went out to go eat and I took her out on a nice date. She’s doing all right now and I’ve been talking to her.

SLAM: Coaching in this tournament, which NBA coaches do you compare yourself to?

NY: I’m like a Pat Riley—like a GM/Coach. Or I might be Steve Kerr.

Photos via Getty Images, Ball Up

The post Q+A: Nick Young appeared first on SLAM.

Lakers guard Nick Young got engaged to girlfriend and rapper Iggy Azalea on Monday night. Young proposed in front of family and friends during his 30th birthday party with a 10-carat diamond ring.

Swaggy P posted on Instagram last night: “She said yes. It’s over man. I’m getting married!”

The post Nick Young and Iggy Azalea Are Getting Married (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

It comes as little surprise, then, that the Lakers will likely entertain trade offers for Young in the offseason, according to the L.A. Daily News.

With Nick Young's tough season + clashes w/ Byron Scott, I'm told Lakers will shop Young around this summer http://t.co/6dtco2bMSB

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) April 14, 2015

Young, for it’s worth, kept his Swag during his exit interview on Wednesday—blaming his poor performance on the rim.

Nick Young on bad shooting: "I blame it on the rim. The rim was tripping this year. I'll take her on a date & treat her better."

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) April 14, 2015

Despite the trade rumors, Swaggy P seemed confident that he’ll be back in the purple and gold next season (perhaps moreso due to his hefty contract and recent poor play).

Nick Young maintained he's confident he will be back next year

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) April 14, 2015

The post Report: Lakers Will Look To Trade Nick Young appeared first on SLAM.

Scott was very unhappy with Young’s erratic play in their first year working together, but Swaggy P isn’t sweating his coach’s harsh words.

Young says the criticism is somewhat unfair, and that he’s taking it “with a grain of salt.”

Per the LA Daily News:

Lakers coach Byron Scott reiterated Saturday that Young needs to return with a more balanced game, one that includes passing and defense to supplement his high-volume shooting. With Young averaging 13.4 points per game this season on a career-low 36.6-percent shooting, Scott also threatened to reduce his minutes if the Lakers upgrade their roster this summer.

 

“I’m used to it right now, hearing what Byron has to say,” said Young, who is in the first season of a four-year deal worth $21.5 million. “I take it with a grain of salt.”

 

Does Young take Scott’s words as valuable feedback? […] “Nah,” Young said. “I don’t know. I feel like it’s just a target toward me. It’s a little unfair. But it’s cool.” […] “I’m trying to stay in shape. I don’t want to get fat,” Young said. “I’ll continue to work out, work hard and stay Swaggy.”

The post Nick Young Says Byron Scott’s Criticism is ‘a Little Unfair’ appeared first on SLAM.

Nick Young has missed the past 20 games nursing a fractured left knee, and it isn’t getting any better, so it looks like the Lakers are prepared to shut him down for the remainder of the schedule. That’s according to Lakers head coach Byron Scott. From the Lakers on Twitter:

Byron Scott says that Nick Young will likely be out for the remainder of the season.

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 4, 2015

And more details, from Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com:

“My feeling really is that, with seven games left, he probably won’t play the rest of the season,” Scott said. “Like I said, the last report that I did get on him — which was when we were on the road — was that he really wasn’t making much progress.”

 

Young missed the first 10 games of the season due to a torn ligament in his thumb, then later missed three games because of a sprained ankle. He also entered a deep shooting slump midway through the season. Since Jan. 1, he has shot 32.2 percent from the field and 28.6 percent on 3-point attempts.

 

Scott hasn’t been shy about criticizing Young, who averaged 13.4 points and 2.3 rebounds in 23.8 minutes over 42 games this season.

 

“I don’t see a problem there with Nick and I, it’s just a matter of him getting healthy No. 1 and understanding that going into next year his priorities have to be a little different,” Scott said.

The post Nick Young Likely to Miss Rest of the Season appeared first on SLAM.

Before you get crazy—Nick Young was obviously joking. We hope.

TMZ released a video today of a photog running up on Swaggy P in Los Angeles and asking him about the only two topics that matter: the NBA MVP race and who has the “hottest rump” in Hollywood.

On the subject of MVP, NY thought about Harden, Westbrook and Curry, but eventually setteled on… Kobe Bryant.

Kobe, of course, played just 35 games this season before shoulder surgery ended his year. Good one, Nick.

Oh, and Swaggy also picked Iggy on that other question, of course. Smart man.

Watch the whole video over at TMZ.

The post Nick Young on MVP Race: ‘I Would Give it to Kobe’ appeared first on SLAM.

Young is expected to recover completely through rest, and there’s a chance he returns to action this season (Young hasn’t played since Feb. 22).

In other Swaggy P news, he rocked a new hairstyle at practice Wednesday, and Lakers head coach Byron Scott gave it a thumbs down.

Per the LA Times:

“It looks like a bunch of worms,” said Scott. “When I first saw him, I just started cracking up laughing. I said, ‘You must have lost a bet.'”

 

“People with no hair wouldn’t understand,” retorted Young, who has a small fracture on his left kneecap that will not require surgery. “I would be mad at somebody that had hair, if I didn’t have hair.” […] “I just felt like it was time for a change,” said Young, who skirted questions about his balky knee. “I was watching ‘Kid and Play,’ then I was sitting home and watching ‘Booty Call’ — I was like ‘Jamie Foxx has a nice haircut I want to try. That’s the inspiration behind it.”

 

Jeremy Lin had no words to offer on Young’s look, although he did sigh and shake his head.

The post Nick Young Has a Small Fracture of Left Kneecap appeared first on SLAM.

For this installment of 2 Chainz’s GQ show “Most Expensive Shit,” the Atlanta rapper goes sneaker shopping with none other than Lakers guard Nick Young. Watch it above.

The post Nick Young and 2 Chainz Go Sneaker Shopping Together (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

There was nothing revelatory in Scott’s assessment — Young’s scoring average and shooting percentage have plummeted sharply from last season.

The self-proclaimed Swaggy P is nursing a swollen left knee, which has caused him to miss seven games in a row (and may keep him out even longer.)

Per the LA Times:

“Either you are having a good year or you’re not. He’s not having a good year,” Scott said Friday. “Hasn’t shot the ball well and I think he’s probably the first to admit this hasn’t been the type of year that he expected.” […] Young is averaging 13.4 points and shooting a career-worst 36.6%. He’s aware of it.

 

“I know I’m a lot better than that,” Young said quietly, a departure from his typically ebullient personality. “I let it get to me a little bit, playing on a bigger stage and hearing it every day. It made me try to force to get out of it instead of just playing my natural game.”

 

“A lot of his shots are tough and under duress,” Scott said. “Everything can’t be catch [the ball] and 18 dribbles and try to get a good shot off. When he does it that way, it’s one of two things — it’s a home run or it’s a strikeout. […] “I know Nick thinks he’s up there with Larry Bird and Reggie Miller and all these guys from a shooting standpoint but you look at their field-goal percentage and you look at his, he’s not there.”

The post Byron Scott on Nick Young: ‘He’s Not Having a Good Year’ appeared first on SLAM.

Swaggy P took exception to a “SportsCenter” talking head poking fun at the pop star Iggy Azalea and her music.

#ByeRobert @RoFloESPN pic.twitter.com/m6mOZ5Xh5h

— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) March 2, 2015

Young wants sports reporters to leave his lady alone.

Since these Sports Channels want to like they BET we shall see

— Nick Young (@NickSwagyPYoung) March 2, 2015

Its cool to talk about me all day any day I find with that, I can take a joke .. That what I do joke, but I didn't see the point of that

— Nick Young (@NickSwagyPYoung) March 2, 2015

The post Nick Young Unhappy With Media Making Fun of Iggy Azalea’s Rap Skills appeared first on SLAM.

Scott said it was unprofessional of a (14-41) squad to act in such a way.

According to Scott, he was made aware of the silly celebration — led by Nick Young, Jordan Hill and Carlos Boozer — only once Kobe’s interview on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” went viral Monday.

Per the OC Register:

Coach Byron Scott did, though, calling the celebration “very disappointing” and that Bryant’s reaction mirrored his own. […] “I was shaking my head because I couldn’t believe it,” Scott said Tuesday.

 

“That’s not us as Lakers. That’s not how we act,” said Scott, who played 11 seasons for the Lakers. “I thought it showed a lack of professionalism. This organization has always been professional in what we do. We’re very proud of that Lakers emblem on our shirt and that purple and gold that we wear.”

 

Scott said he told the team the same thing before Tuesday’s practice and the players agreed that it was “distasteful.” […] “It was very important to address the team about it and get that issue solved,” said Scott, adding that there wouldn’t be any disciplinary action taken. “I think just the fact that everyone is making a real big deal out of it (is enough),” he said.

The post Byron Scott Calls the Lakers’ Postgame Celebration Unprofessional appeared first on SLAM.

Nick Young feels bad for Lakers teammate Jeremy Lin and the struggles he’s endured during his first season in Los Angeles.

Young thinks the point guard could have made his life a lot easier by passing instead of taking so many shots; Lin (who’s put up 10.2 points on 42.6 percent shooting, 4.6 assists and 2.7 turnovers in 25.5 minutes per game) attributes his ongoing nightmare to over-thinking on the court.

Per the LA Daily News:

“It’s tough. He’s expected to live up to ‘Linsanity,’” Lakers forward Nick Young said. “It’s a lot of pressure. But he can’t let everything get to him. Everything he does, he’s singled out more than anybody.” […] “I know it’s his contract year, but he could’ve focused on passing a little bit more,” Young said of Lin. “Especially when Kobe (Bryant) was out there, [Jeremy] needed to drop dimes.”

 

Yet, Lin does not seem comfortable wearing purple and gold, offering a neutral perspective on how he hopes the trade deadline unfolds. […] “I want to be able to have fun and play wherever I am,” Lin said. “I can’t control what they do. If I’m here, I’ll definitely give it my all. If they trade me, I’ll definitely give it my all wherever I am.”

 

“There are times I will think too much and I lose a little bit of the aggressiveness. But I don’t think it’s a consistent thing,” Lin said. “This is a new system and the least amount of space I’ve played with on the floor. So I’m trying to adjust.” […] Nearly four months have passed with minimal progress. But Lin called it “too early” to analyze his pending free agency. Instead, Lin held out hope his circumstances will feature a happy ending.

The post Nick Young: Jeremy Lin Should Have Passed More This Season appeared first on SLAM.

That was one of the few Laker highlights Wednesday night, as the Portland Trail Blazers cruised to a 102-86 win.

The post Nick Young Drops Steve Blake With Behind-the-Back Crossover (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

Kobe Bryant has been going through back-channels to convince stars to don the Purple & Gold, while Nick Young is hilariously approaching dudes on the court about next season.

Young says he’s not shy about selling the Lakers on soon-to-be free agents.

Per the LA Daily News:

“It’s tough, but I know it’s going to get better,” Young said. “This offseason is going to be big for us. It’s going to work out.”

 

How to explain Young’s optimism? […] Well, the former L.A. Cleveland High and USC product grew up idolizing the Lakers and remembers how customary it became for them to host championship parades. But the man who playfully labeled himself this season as the NBA’s best all-time shooter also argued he will play a significant role this offseason in helping the Lakers attract marquee free agents.

 

“I told Goran Dragic on the court, ‘You might be my teammate next year.’” Young said shortly after the Lakers’ loss on Monday to the Phoenix Suns. “I’ll talk to Marc (Gasol.) Me and him are cool. Kevin Love, I’ll talk to him.”

The post Nick Young Recruits Free Agents to the Lakers During Games appeared first on SLAM.

Nick Young added four rebounds and three assists to his 24 points. “That’s a triple-double for me,” he joked.

— Bill Oram (@billoram) January 20, 2015

Young broke out of an ugly slump, and found his shooting stroke by scoring 24 points (going 7/12 from the field.)

Per the LA Times:

It’s hard to say the swag was back after the Lakers lost by 15. But Young was able to say it. […] “I try to block out all the negativity and be ‘Swaggy’ out there still,” he said. “They told me, ‘You can’t turn “Swaggy” off. You made this guy, you’ve got to be him.’ “

 

Young also credited Kobe Bryant for inspiring him with a 17-assist game last week against Cleveland, the most Bryant ever had in his 19-year career. […] “I just want to get a double-double one day in my career,” Young said.

 

He has a lot of work to do there. His career high is six assists. Young had three against Phoenix, tying his season-high. His career average is 1.1 a game.

The post Nick Young Inspired By Kobe Bryant to Dish Out 3 Assists appeared first on SLAM.

Nick Young enjoyed his brief time with the Los Angeles Clippers. He spent 22 regular season games with the franchise in 2012, went to the playoffs, and was part of one of the greatest comebacks in postseason history.

 

“I was really one of the reasons that happened,” said a grinning Young, who never lacks for confidence.

 

But when it comes to learning and improving, the L.A. native said he’s had a better experience with the Lakers.

 

“Being a Laker, there’s nothing like it,” Young said. “I think I learn more just being here and being around an atmosphere of winning, toughness and learning how to play under a great player like Kobe (Bryant).”

 

Some may raise an eyebrow at the middle part of that statement.

 

An atmosphere of… Winning?

 

The Lakers are 11-24 and on pace for the worst 82-game record in franchise history. entering Thursday’s game against the Clippers at Staples Center the franchise with 16 NBA titles has lost eight of their last nine games against the team with none, including a 118-111 loss to the Clippers on Halloween night.

 

Through it all, Young said he doesn’t have much animosity for the Clippers. He reserves that for the team that drafted him and traded him to the Clippers, the Washington Wizards.

 

“I hate the Wizards,” said Young, who played in Washington from 2007-12. “But I like some of the guys over the guys, I just hate the Wizards.”

The post Nick Young Says He Prefers ‘Winning Atmosphere’ of Lakers Over Playing for Clippers appeared first on SLAM.

Using a balanced attack, the Lakers shocked the Warriors, and learned they can without relying so heavily on their superstar guard.

Nick Young: "Some guys played like 'Django Unchained.' They were free tonight."

— J.A. Adande (@jadande) December 24, 2014

Nick Young, who came into the game already feeling great, said (somewhat jokingly) that Bryant needs to share the burden a little more with his teammates.

Per the LA Daily News:

The Lakers moved the ball. They scored at both an efficient and balanced rate. They defended. They had fun. All of this happened against the Warriors (23-4), which boasts the Western Conference’s best record no less. It came just as the Lakers (9-19) hoped they could accomplish more without placing too much burden on Bryant. […] “It was great to have a game to make that case,” Lakers coach Byron Scott said. “We’re still going to lean on him. But we don’t have to do it as heavy as we are. That’s the message.”

 

“We’re going to have to tell Kobe to pass me the ball,” Young said in a half serious, half joking tone. “Pass us the ball. Tell him to take a backseat a little bit.”

 

Who needs Bryant carrying the Lakers by himself when the team featured Carlos Boozer (18 points), Ronnie Price (17 points), Nick Young (15 points), Ed Davis (14 points), Wesley Johnson (14 points), Wayne Ellington (12 points) and Jeremy Lin (11 points) cracking double digits? […] Who needs Bryant to dictate the Lakers’ outcome with a possible game-winning shot that hasn’t fallen on 12 consecutive attempts? Instead, the Lakers dictated the result with defensive stops that entailed forcing 19 turnovers and grabbing 11 steals.

The post Nick Young on Kobe Bryant: ‘Tell Him to Take a Backseat a Little Bit’ appeared first on SLAM.

Kevin Love faced his former team for the first time last night after taking his talents to Cleveland. The Minnesota Timberwolves came to town, and Love welcomed them to his new home by dropping 20 points and 10 rebounds on ‘em. His teammates helped to welcome the Wolves too. Kyrie Irving—the latest man to cover SLAM—in particular showed off his scoring abilities, with 29 points. The Cavs cruised to a victory over the visiting team, building a lead as great as 25 at one point. They pulled away in the second half, despite the No. 1 Draft Pick’s attack mode that resulted in 27 points…and this:

Pacers 96 (10-19), Pelicans 84 (14-14)

George Hill had a pleasurable season debut for Indiana last night, after missing 28 games due to a knee injury. He scored 15 points off the bench in 21 minutes. Eight of those points came in the fourth quarter to help the Pacers wrap up a win over the visiting Pelicans. Hill received help from every one of his teammates who saw minutes—all nine Pacers scored at least six points, and six of them were in double-figures. Each Pelican who saw minutes scored points as well, but things fell more easily for the Pacers, as they shot 50 percent from the field.

Magic 100 (11-20), Celtics 95 (10-16)

When the Celtics came to visit the Magic last night, the Orlando squad wasted no time and showed off their special tricks right away. They outscored Boston 26-9 in the first quarter on 56 percent shooting and remained pretty efficient throughout, as they finished the win on 47 percent. Despite the poor single-digit first quarter and trailing by 25 at the start of the fourth, the Celtics weren’t ready to call it quits. They outscored the Magic by 20 points to cut the Magic’s lead to 3 in the final period, but were unable to finish the home team off.

Bulls 99 (19-9), Wizards 91 (19-8)

Two great teams with two elite point guards in the East promised a fun game last night. John Wall and the Washington Wizards hosted Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls in DC yesterday. Rose wasn’t ready to end the Bulls’ three-game winning streak, so he dropped a solid 25 points in the game. In the fourth, Chicago led 86-75 with about half the quarter remaining. Naturally, John Wall scored 10 straight unanswered points (with a pair of free throws for Paul Pierce coming in between) to give the Wiz a one-point lead with 3:44 remaining on the clock. Being this quick…really ain’t fair:

But Rose had enough. After Wall’s nifty performance, D-Rose and the Bulls finished the game on a 13-4 run. Rose scored 8 straight to put the home team away for good and claim a fourth consecutive W for his own.

Hawks 107 (21-7), Clippers 104 (19-10)

Atlanta is the hottest team in the NBA right now, and don’t let anyone else tell you different. With last night’s dub over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers, the Hawks won 14 of their last 15 and are on a current League-best winning streak with five in a row. So once again, #ATLshawty.

DeMarre Caroll had a big part to play in last night’s W. He recorded a career-high 25 points to go along with 10 rebounds as the Hawks continue to prove to everybody they’re true contenders. They overcame a 13-point Clippers’ lead and double-double performances from Blake Griffin (21 points and 11 assists) and DeAndre Jordan (15 points and 22 rebounds). Two of DJ’s points off a Chris Paul lob can be seen in this little highlight:

Nets 102 (12-15), Nuggets 96 (12-17)

Mason Plumlee and Joe Johnson were the men of the night, as the Nets took care of the Nuggets to win their second straight game. Plumlee had 19 points, a career-high 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks in the W—six of his points and six of his boards came in the fourth quarter, a period in which Brooklyn outscored Denver 26-19. Johnson finished with 27 points, with eight coming in that final period. Ty Lawson’s near double-double (29 points and 9 assists) night couldn’t stop the Nets, as the Nuggets lost their second in a row.

Sixers 91 (4-23), Heat 87 (13-16)

Okay. The Philadelphia 76ers came back from being down 23 in the third quarter on Miami’s home floor to win an actual ball game. Nothing to see here…except Philly stealing the ball eight times from the Heat in the third quarter to end that period on a 27-9 run. The impressive play continued into the fourth, and the 76ers finished on a 41-13 cross-quarter run. They held the Heat to a mere nine points in the final period.

The Sixers played with eight men, but each of them contributed to the final score. Michael Carter-Williams was the leader with 20 points and 6 steals, and Luc Mbah A Moute added 19 points and 6 rebounds. KJ McDaniels had 13 points, four of which came from these two plays:

From the 3rd quarter: @KJMcDaniels is at it again. https://t.co/CjApPwNwrd

— Philadelphia 76ers (@Sixers) December 24, 2014

From the 4th: @KJMcDaniels goin' UP, on a Tuesday. https://t.co/GNwqtOfG6c

— Philadelphia 76ers (@Sixers) December 24, 2014

The Hornets are on a nice little winning streak. With their victory over the Bucks in Milwaukee last night, Charlotte got its fourth straight. The visiting team with the fly jerseys overcame Brandon Knight’s season-high 34-point and 5-assist performance. The Hornets trailed by two points at the break, but they outscored the Bucks by nine in the second half behind everyone on the team really. Six Hornets were in double-figures, with Kemba Walker (27 points) and Gerald Henderson (20 points) leading the way. The Bucks dropped their second in a row, but sit in the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference.

Trail Blazers 115 (23-7), Thunder 111 (13-16) OT

Another battle of elite point guards—fun times! See Russell Westbrook (season-high 40 points and 10 rebounds) and Damian Lillard (40 points including career-high eight 3-pointers and 11 assists) battle:

Here’s that Lillard 3-pointer that sent the game to overtime, all in its own Vine:

Yes, it does look familiar doesn’t it? A lovely side-by-side comparison to last year’s #ILLARD shot that won the Playoffs series over the very same Thunder team, for your viewing pleasure:

Down 13 in the fourth, the Portland Trail Blazers came all the way back to force an overtime off that Lillard 3 above. Dame scored 7 points in the extra period. With Portland up seven and 40.6 left on the OT clock, LaMarcus Aldridge and Serge Ibaka got in a little tussle, and the refs ejected them from the game. Anthony Morrow scored a 3 at the very end, but the Blazers held on for the satisfying win at home.

Suns 124 (16-14), Mavericks 115 (20-10)

Eric Bledsoe’s second career triple-double (16 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists) and a 71-point second half carried the Suns over the visiting Dallas Mavericks for their fourth consecutive win. That triple-double, by the way, was sealed with this aggressive rebound over his own teammate Goran Dragic (25 points):

Besides these two guys, the rest of the Suns who saw minutes did work too. Each man scored at least four points to contribute to the final score. The Mavs had five of their own players in double-figures, plus a double-double from Tyson Chandler (22 points and 14 rebounds), but they couldn’t fully overcome the 19-point lead Phoenix built in the third quarter.

Lakers 115 (9-19), Warriors 105 (23-4)

No one thought the Los Angeles Lakers—without Kobe Bryant, mind you—would be the team that would give the Golden State Warriors their fourth loss of the season…except for maybe good ol’ St. Nick Swaggy P.

He continued to say that the world knew the Lakers were going to win, but I mean who wouldn’t be in such a good mood after a perfect victory over the best team in the L and receiving an early Christmas gift like this?

Seven of the 10 Lakers who played were in double-figures last night to build a lead as great as 24. Stephen Curry had 22 points for the Warriors, but the guys in purple and gold were feeling extra swaggalicious and gave the Los Angeles fans something to cheer for.

The post Post Up: On Guard appeared first on SLAM.

Per the Oklahoman:

“He did that last year to me,” Young said on Friday night. “I got a tech on the same person. It’s not my first rodeo with him.”

 

And what exactly did Adams do?

 

“He had my arm caught up,” Young explained. “That’s all I had was my right hand. You didn’t see all that. Like I said, he knows all the tricks and trades, but if you look carefully, he had my whole left arm locked in for the whole play.”

 

“Just little hits here and there,” Young continued. “When they’re coming off screens, he’ll stick his knee out and stuff like that. I’m not here to tell on him or anything like that. He’s doing his job. He did his job today to get me out of the game. That’s what they put him in the game to do.”

The post Nick Young Ejected For Elbowing Steven Adams in the Throat (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

The post Nick Young Hits Dagger Three-Pointer in OT (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

Derrick Rose (31 points, 5 assists, 31 minutes) had one of his most complete games and offensive performances in quite some time. In fact, Rose’s 31 points was the most he has had since March 2012. He didn’t do it on his own, though, as backup point guard Aaron Brooks (17 points, 16 minutes) also came alive late in this game. These two combined to score 22 points in the final quarter, holding off a Blazers team that just wouldn’t go away. LaMarcus Aldridge (35 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks) came out blazing, putting up 21 points in the first quarter and Damian Lillard (35 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds) heated up towards the end, nailing multiple late 3-pointers to keep his team in the game. He had 18 points in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough to slow down a balanced attack by the Bulls as all eight Chicago players that entered the game scored at least eight points.

Wizards 104 (16-6), Clippers 96 (16-6)

This one ended up looking much closer than it actually was as the Wizards easily took care of the Clippers in a wire-to-wire victory. Behind strong play to start from big men Kris Humphries (11 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals) and Marcin Gortat (18 points, 2 blocks), Washington jumped out to a quick 10-4 lead and then built that into a 30-19 lead after a Rasual Butler (8 points, 2-4 on 3-pointers) triple. The Wizards were getting everything they wanted through the first 12 minutes in putting up 30 points while the Clippers couldn’t get much offensive production out of their second unit. Jamal Crawford (12 points, 2 steals) was the only Clippers’ bench player in double digits and he shot 2-13 (15.4 percent) from the field. The Wizards didn’t get much from their bench, either, but received big enough games from Gortat, Bradley Beal (29 points, 3 steals, 4-7 on 3-pointers) and John Wall (10 points, 11 assists) to cruise to a victory. Wall, specifically, had one of his best defensive performances of the season and played a large part in forcing Chris Paul (19 points, 6 assists, 7 rebounds) to cough up a season-high six turnovers on the night.

Hawks 87 (16-6), Magic 81 (9-16)

The Hawks showed some grit in winning this ugly match between two Eastern Conference foes. Paul Millsap (23 points, 8 rebounds) led the way for the Hawks, making a crucial 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter to turn a one-possession game into a five-point lead. Jeff Teague (13 points, 5 assists) scored six straight points down the stretch as big man Kyle O’Quinn (14 points, 10 rebounds) started to heat up late in the game. Even though both these teams shot below 40 percent from the field and the Hawks were actually a few percent points below the Magic, Atlanta made enough critical stops down the stretch to snatch the win. Victor Oladipo (21 points, 8-12 from the field) and Orlando only scored 17 points in the final quarter. Don’t look now, but the Hawks have won nine straight games and are only half a game out of first place in the East. They are playing stingy defense and running an efficient offense with Teague understanding and running Mike Budenholzer’s offense. If you look at the top three teams in the East (Raptors, Wizards, Hawks), these are all teams that brought back their coach, core players and system from a year ago. So, chemistry is definitely something that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Knicks 101 (5-20), Celtics 95 (7-14)

The Knicks won! Carmelo Anthony (22 points) and Amare Stoudemire (20 points, 7 rebounds) gave everyone a reminder why New York invested so much money in these two players and also snapped their 10-game losing streak. They almost blew this one, though, as Jeff Green (28 points, 6 rebounds) attempted to play the role of hero in front of his home fans. After Melo drained a triple with 5:44 left in the game, the Knicks held a comfortable 90-75 lead and looked to be in control. Then, Green went on to score 14 points in less than five minutes and cut the deficit to 98-93 with less than a minute to go. However, New York would force some bad shots to win its second road victory of the season and inch a little bit farther from the bottom of the East.

Nets 88 (9-12), 76ers 70 (2-20)

Through the first three quarters, the Nets actually looked about as bad as the worst team in the NBA. They only held a 63-60 lead and couldn’t seem to get anything going offensively. Robert Covington (20 points, 6-10 on 3-pointers) was having another great game offensively while Michael Carter-Williams (14 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds) was doing a little bit of everything. However, in the final quarter, the Nets clamped down defensively and only allowed Philadelphia to score 10 points in 12 minutes. Offensively, ten Nets players scored in the fourth quarter, led by a big double-double from Miles Plumlee (18 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals). He helped make up for Deron Williams’ (3 points, 10 assists, 0-8 from the field) dreadful shooting night. Williams might say he is back to being an elite point guard, but he isn’t showing it on the court. The Sixers only made 22 shots on the night, shooting a horrid 31.9 percent from the field. Half of these made baskets came from behind the 3-point line. They also turned the ball over 23 times, compared to 17 times by the Nets.

Raptors 106 (17-6), Pacers 94 (7-16)

Lou Williams (26 points, 29 minutes) reminded his home Canada crowd Friday night why he has a legitimate case to be Sixth Man of the Year. The backup point guard does a fantastic job of bringing energy and acting as a spark plug every time he enters the game. The transition from Kyle Lowry’s (9 points, 7 assists) first unit and Williams’ second unit is seamless and it is a major reason they remain atop the East even without DeMar DeRozan (groin). Williams made a tough and-one to start the second quarter that gave the Raptors a double-digit lead. Besides part of the third quarter and late in trash time, Toronto comfortable led in this one and didn’t let Solomon Hill (16 points) and the Pacers really have a chance in this one. Both teams shot 41 percent from the field, but the Raptors had 11 more attempts thanks to their 52-39 advantage in the boards. Jonas Valanciunas (10 points, 14 rebounds) played a large part in helping the Raptors establish their dominance in the paint. With the Knicks and Pistons finally finding a way to pull out victories, the Pacers now own the longest losing streak in the NBA at seven.

Grizzlies 113 (18-4), Hornets 107 (6-16) 2OT

Not only have the Hornets been the most disappointing team of the season so far, they have dealt with some of the most frustrating, heartbreaking and/or tough losses in the League. The momentum was in Charlotte’s favor, though, after the fourth quarter when Gerald Henderson (10 points) tipped in a shot with 0.4 seconds left to send this one into overtime. But then at the end of that first overtime, the Hornets held a 102-99 lead with 23.1 seconds remaining. They went on to leave Vince Carter (8 points) wide open in the corner…the one Grizzlies player you don’t want to lose track of behind the 3-point line. By that second overtime, the Hornets simply ran out of gas while Memphis knocked down its free throws to claim the victory. Guards Kemba Walker (28 points, 7 assists) and Gary Neal (25 points) put up some big numbers while Al Jefferson (16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks) never really found his touch down low. Zach Randolph (20 points, 11 rebounds) did find his touch in the paint and Tony Allen (9 points, 10 rebounds) grabbed double-digit boards as well. The Grizzlies pulled this one out despite committing 20 turnovers on the night.

Thunder 111 (10-13), Timberwolves 92 (5-17)

The Thunder are officially rolling in winning their fifth straight and inching closer and closer to snatching that eighth seed—especially with how the Suns have been struggling of late. This one was probably over less than six minutes into the game as the Thunder built a 20-7 lead after Serge Ibaka (13 points, 2 blocks) nailed a triple. By the end of the quarter, Russell Westbrook (34 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds, 12-19 from the field) was in complete control of this game and OKC led 39-21. Westbrook might have a game here and there when you question his ability to be a “true point guard” and play along side another star. But a night like this one reminds us that he can often times look like the best point guard in the NBA. Young guns Andrew Wiggins (18 points) and Shabazz Muhammad (18 points) put up decent performances to provide a silver lining for the injured Wolves. They now possess the worst record in the West.

Pelicans 119 (11-11), Cavaliers 114 (13-9)

This was the one issue many people were worried about as the Cavs were rolling through their recent winning streak: defense. The Cavs are going to put up big offensive numbers night in and night out, but can they make just enough stops when they need to? They couldn’t on Friday as Tyreke Evans (31 points, 10 assists), Jrue Holiday (16 points, 8 assists) and Ryan Anderson (30 points, 8-14 on 3-pointers) kept making big shot after big shot without their All-Star big man. Anthony Davis left the game in the first quarter due to chest pains. LeBron James (41 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists) had a monster performance in the loss, showing us he can still take over a game even with Kyrie Irving (17 points, 7 assists) and Kevin Love (21 points, 7 rebounds) on the court. Again, the defense was the issue as the Pelicans shot 55.7 percent from the field, made 12-28 (42.9 percent) 3-point attempts and poured in at least 30 points in three different quarters.

Pistons 105 (4-19), Suns 103 (12-12)

Detroit’s 13-game losing streak has come to a close thanks to dominant play from the interior. Andre Drummond (23 points, 14 rebounds), Greg Monroe (12 points, 8 rebounds) and Josh Smith (12 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks) showed why that three-headed tandem can be dangerous if they can actually figure out what their roles are when playing together. A large factor in their success also came due to the Suns’ deficiencies as they have struggled with their interior play since last season. It was a problem down the stretch a year ago as Miles Plumlee (10 points, 6 rebounds), Alex Len (0 points, 0 rebounds, 12 minutes) and the rest of their big men couldn’t hold their own with the towers of the West. Friday night, the Suns allowed the Pistons to score 60 points in the paint and were also outrebounded 47-37. All five starters actually reached double figures while Isaiah Thomas and Marcus Morris each chipped in 10 points. But the Pistons big men were too much for the Suns as those three played strong defense down the stretch to earn the two-point win.

Heat 100 (11-12), Jazz 95 (6-17)

He might have been sick, but Dwyane Wade (29 points, 7 assists) put up some solid numbers to help the Heat take care of the young Jazz. After Gordon Hayward (18 points, 8 rebounds) netted a layup with 10.2 seconds to go, the Heat only led 95-93. After being fouled, Wade calmly sunk two free throws to extend the lead to a two-possession game and help his team get one game away from being back to .500. Chris Bosh (22 points, 9 rebounds) had a solid game down low while Luol Deng (14 points, 6 rebounds) made some key stops down the stretch. For the Jazz, Enes Kanter (25 points, 8 rebounds) had one of his best games of the season but missed a key 3-point attempt with just over a minute to go. The Heat shot exactly 50 percent from the field while the Jazz shot 44.2 percent.

Lakers 112 (7-16), Spurs 110 (16-7) OT

Before this game even took place, it was all about Kobe Bryant (22 points, 9 assists, 4 steals) and his potential to pass Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list. Well, Bryant came close and ended up being overshadowed by Mr. Nick Young (29 points, 6-9 on 3-pointers). It seemed as though Young had the Kobe gene in him as he hit some ridiculously tough shots to help his Lakers upset the Spurs. The epitome of this came with 7.4 seconds remaining in overtime as Swaggy P nailed a contested deep trey to turn a one-point deficit into a two-point lead. Manu Ginobili (18 points) missed a 3-pointer of his own that would have given the Spurs the victory. Recently benched starters Jeremy Lin (14 points, 8 assists) and Carlos Boozer (14 points, 13 rebounds) both looked very comfortable in their new roles Friday night and gave their team solid minutes off the bench. Along with Boozer, starting center Jordan Hill (14 points, 10 rebounds) posted a double-double, helping his team just win the rebounding battle 49-47. Tim Duncan(19 points, 18 rebounds, 2 blocks), though, had the most commanding double-double of anyone in this game, trying his best to keep his team in the game. In the end, though, Bryant handed the reins to the hot hand and allowed Swaggy P to fire away and give his team their seventh victory of the year. Swag on, Swaggy P.

The post Post Up: Swaggy P Style appeared first on SLAM.

Only Nick Young appeared to have the guts to talk back at his superstar teammate, and he wants Jeremy Lin and others to stop being so damn afraid of Kobe.

Nick Young pulled Jeremy Lin and Jordan Clarkson to the side after practice and told them to stand up for themselves after Kobe got on them.

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) December 11, 2014

Bryant doesn’t practice often due to the wear and tear on his 36-year old body, but he sure does raise the intensity-level when he laces up his Nikes.

Per the OC Register:

“You can’t back down from a challenge,” Young said. “Me and Kobe are always going to talk trash and get into it. When he talks to everybody else, some people tend to shy away and I was telling them you have to have some (guts) in this league.

 

“It doesn’t matter who it is. Play your game. Don’t get any less confident out there. Talk trash right back to him.”

 

“I’ve always enjoyed practices more than the games,” Bryant said. “I don’t know if it (him participating) helps them but it obviously raises the intensity level. It was a tough practice for them,” he added. […] “Hopefully the guys can carry the energy of this practice a little bit. As often as I can get out there and do what I did today, I’m all for it. I had so much fun being out there, just the level of excitement of being able to play and compete in practice.”

The post Nick Young Wants Teammates to Talk Trash Back at Kobe Bryant appeared first on SLAM.

At one point, Kobe yelled at GM Mitch Kupchak about the sorry squad he’s assembled this season. (Hang in there, Mitch. You’ll soon be free …)

Nick Young then added fuel to Bryant’s fire by talking all kinds of crazy junk.

Per the LA Times:

Kobe extremely unhappy on the practice court. "Now I see why we've lost so many games. We're soft like Charmin!"

— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) December 11, 2014

Kobe yelled to Kupchak while leaving practice court: "These (expletives) aren't doing (expletive) for me." Didn't think team practiced hard.

— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) December 11, 2014

More Kobe: He didn't think the second unit did a good enough job today. Starters crushed them in scrimmage.

— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) December 11, 2014

Kobe: “I just challenge guys, see what happens. I’ve always believed in throwing them in the pool and then seeing if they can sink or swim.”

— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) December 11, 2014

As for Nick Young’s trash talk and boasting, Kobe was unmoved:

Kobe laughed when asked about Nick Young: "I think Nick probably regrets getting me started in practice and saying something."

— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) December 11, 2014

Kobe on Nick Young's proclomation that nobody in this world can guard him one-on-one: "Thank god I’m not from this world."

— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) December 11, 2014

The post Kobe Bryant Yells at His Teammates: ‘We’re Soft Like Charmin!’ (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

Kobe misfired time and again during the fourth quarter and overtime, as the Denver Nuggets took home an ugly 101-94 win.

Byron Scott didn’t think the Lakers were relying too much on Bryant, something forward Nick Young disagreed with.

Per the LA Daily News:

Have the Lakers become too dependent on Kobe Bryant? […] “Not really,” Lakers coach Byron Scott said. “I thought tonight because of the way they were loading up, they did a great job in forcing them to come at him. When they came at him, he did a great job of finding guys. We just missed shots.”

 

“At times, we fall into relying on No. 24 a lot,” Lakers forward Nick Young said. “We got to believe in ourselves. I believe in everybody on this team. Kobe is going to be Kobe. But we have to find a way to put the ball in the hole with everybody else.”

 

Bryant’s 27 points on 10-of-24 shooting featuring him missing seven of his last eight attempts. And though Scott also cited the Lakers’ woes in the fourth quarter and in overtime both from the foul line (7-of-11) and offensive rebound disparity (9-2), Bryant’s shooting accuracy became a topic of conversation. […] “I feel like I took myself out of rhythm a little bit. In the third quarter, I might have been too passive and let the game get away from me a little bit,” said Bryant, who attempted only one field goal in the third quarter. “I tried to gain it back a little bit. It’s a tough balance.”

The post Nick Young Thinks the Lakers Rely Too Much on Kobe Bryant appeared first on SLAM.

This was a back-and-forth, high-intensity game featuring two teams that have a good chance to make it very deep into the playoffs when May rolls around. However, the final handful of possessions showed that at this moment, only one of these two teams already has their chemistry and late-game execution close to figured out. After Cory Joseph (10 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds) closed out the third quarter strong, San Antonio held a slim 72-69 lead. LeBron James (15 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds, 5 turnovers) had been doing his best to get his teammates involved, including Anderson Varejao (23 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks), who showed a nice touch around the rim on the night. The fourth quarter remained a tight one, as neither team led by more than three points from 9:48 left until the final buzzer sounded. The final 2:35 is where the Spurs took this one. After a Boris Diaw (19 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 steals) missed 3-point shot with 2:36 remaining, the Cavs had an 86-85 lead and a chance to extend their lead to three or four points. However, they couldn’t capitalize on not one, not two but three opportunities as James snatched two offensive rebounds on the possession. Tim Duncan (19 points, 10 rebounds) would make them pay by easily placing in a turnaround bank shot to put his team back in front. Manu Ginobili (7 points, 5 assists) would later flip one in after two nice touches from Tony Parker (8 points, 3 assists) and Duncan to put the Spurs up 91-88. This was one of those plays where all three of San Antonio’s stars knew exactly where their teammates would be. Due to a Ginobili missed free throw, though, the Cavs had one more chance. LeBron went behind his back and consequently lost the handle of the ball, turning it over and giving the game to the Spurs. James’ and Kevin Love’s (10 points, 11 rebounds) shooting woes continued Wednesday night, as these two combined to shoot 10-29 (34.5 percent) from the field. Their team’s rhythm just isn’t there right now, but we all have to assume they will figure it out as the season moves along.

Pacers 88 (5-7), Hornets 86 (4-8)

Lance Stephenson (10 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists) went back to where his career started for the first time since he took his talents to Charlotte, but Wednesday turned out to be all about one of the players who is trying to fill the void Born Ready left behind. Even though Rodney Stuckey (11 points) clearly was going to take the last shot for the win, Solomon Hill (6 points, 5 rebounds) wasn’t content with ball watching. As Stuckey stepped back for a potential game-winner, Hill snuck baseline, grabbed an air-ball in midair and tossed it in as the buzzer sounded to give his Pacers the victory. Before the late-game heroics, the Hornets squandered a 15-point, second-quarter lead because of their disappearing offense and strong play from Roy Hibbert (18 points, 11 rebounds). As strong as the defense has been and will be, Charlotte allows too many minutes to go by without scoring any points. Al Jefferson (28 points, 8 rebounds) is certainly Steve Clifford’s offensive anchor, but at sometimes Kemba Walker (12 points, 7 assists) and Stephenson over dribble or fail to make the simple pass. And with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (foot) and Gary Neal (concussion) sidelined against the Pacers, Gerald Henderson (0 points, 23 minutes) filled part of this void and put up an offensive dud. This is already the fourth time this season Henderson has been held scoreless…that can’t happen if Charlotte wants to make another playoff run. Clifford will make this team play defense, but they need to find some sort of an offensive rhythm. Once Stephenson inevitably settles in to his new role, the offensive should somewhat come around.

Clippers 114 (6-4), Magic 90 (5-8)

Los Angeles won all four quarters in this one, slowly but surely pulling away to an easy 24-point victory. The Clippers, who were starting this brutal road trip of seven road games in 11 days, didn’t even need their starters to play in the fourth quarter. Chris Paul (16 points, 9 assists, 8-13 from the field) was efficient with his shooting and passing, Blake Griffin (20 points) muscled his way to another 20-point performance and Jamal Crawford (22 points, 8-12 from the field) had one of those nights when he couldn’t miss from anywhere on the court. When Crawford finds his touch, he becomes the small forward this team desperately needs in their lineup. With Evan Fournier (heel) out, the Magic missed his scoring and ball distribution while only shooting 39.5 percent from the field. Tobias Harris (25 points, 2-2 on 3-pointers) had a solid showing and Nikola Vucevic (19 points, 14 rebounds) notched his usual double-double but barely had an impact in the second half. Even though they played with their usual rapid pace, the Clippers played smart basketball, only turning the ball over seven times.

Celtics 101 (4-6), 76ers 90 (0-11)

The Sixers played two good quarter of basketball going into the halftime with a tie and seemed like they might have a chance to pick up that elusive first win of the season. The Celtics, though, weren’t about to lose their fourth straight as Rajon Rondo (9 points, 13 assists), Jared Sullinger (22 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists) and Brandon Bass (23 points, 6 rebounds, 9-13 from the field) all played key roles in leading Boston to the double-digit victory. Bass, specifically, lived on the baseline and accepted pass after pass from Rondo. Tony Wroten (21 points, 7 assists) led the Sixers in scoring again as now starting point guard Michael Carter-Williams (11 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 turnovers) only has one more assist than turnover in his first four games of the season (19 assists, 18 turnovers). Boston has struggled defensively this season, but the Sixers helped with that issue, as they scored a season-low 90 points on the Celtics.

Mavericks 105 (9-3), Wizards 102 (7-3)

The Mavs came into this game winners of their last four while the Wizards had won their last three. Both these teams had their cores return from last season while adding key small forwards. Dallas was able to pick up the road victory, though, due to a certain German power forward who did what he’s been doing since he entered the league. After a closely contested game with neither team leading by more than 10 points, Dirk Nowitzki (13 points, 3-4 on 3-pointers) twisted his left ankle after accidentally stepping on the back of Kris Humphries’ (9 points, 6 rebounds) shoe. But if you haven’t heard before, Dirk’s ankles are practically rubber at this point in his career. After getting his ankles taped in the locker room, he returned and drilled a critical 3-point dagger that extended the Mavericks lead from a two points to 102-97. The Wizards would cut it back down to three points after Bradley Beal (21 points, 3-6 on 3-pointers)–who looked good in his first game back–made a driving layup. Monta Ellis (34 points, 12-14 on free throws), though, calmly made a pair of free throws to put this one out of reach for good. Ellis was ridiculous through the first 12 minutes, scoring 18 of his 34 points. With Jameer Nelson (5 points, 2-12 from the field) having an off night, Rick Carlisle handed the reins to J.J. Barea (14 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 23 minutes), who played very well down the stretch. (This is a guy who was waived earlier in the season…now he’s playing crunch-time minutes on a 9-3 team.) Big men Tyson Chandler (5 points, 16 rebounds, 3 blocks) and Brandan Wright (14 points, 6 rebounds, 6-7 from the field) remain a lethal one-two punch down low, acting as pogo sticks on both ends of the court. Through 12 games so far, 12 Mavs have net ratings of +6.9 or higher when on the floor, showing their insane depth. As long as the defense can become more consistent, there is no reason to think the Mavs can’t compete in the West.

Bucks 122 (7-5), Nets 118 (4-7) 3OT

This game was nothing short of a roller coaster. With the Bucks winning their last two to go over .500 and the Nets losers of their last four, Jason Kidd returned to Brooklyn with the brighter future and the better record. These two teams went back and forth early on as neither team led by more than four points midway through the second quarter. Behind some quick baskets from Jarrett Jack (14 points), who had nine of his 14 points in the second quarter, the Nets extended their lead to double-digits. The Bucks rallied in the third thanks to a two-minute scoring drought by Brooklyn that allowed Milwaukee to go on a 9-0 run. By the time the fourth quarter started, this one was back to being a back-and-forth contest as Brook Lopez (26 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks) looked good for the Nets throughout Wednesday night. Regulation play finished with a tie thanks to a clutch layup from O.J. Mayo (21 points, 7 rebounds) with 30.4 seconds remaining. As disappointing of a career Mayo has had since the Grizzlies took him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, he seems to be finding a groove and role under Kidd. The first overtime ended with Mayo coming through for his team again, swishing two game-tying free throws with 21.2 seconds remaining. These closing seconds, though, weren’t about Mayo. During the Nets’ final possession of the first overtime, Joe Johnson (18 points, 8 assists) jumped in the air without knowing what he was doing with the ball (which is something a basketball player should never do), allowing Brandon Knight (18 points, 8 assists) to easily steal the ball and head to the other basket with the clock winding down. Knight went up for the right-handed layup he has successfully made thousands of time in his life…and botched the layup. Everyone was shocked, including Kidd, who had to hold back his frustration. As frustrated as the Bucks had to have been with Knight, they trusted him in the second overtime and he came through with a huge 3-point basket with 19.6 seconds left to send this one to a third overtime. And in these final five minutes of free basketball, the Bucks won this game with their defense, holding the Nets to only two field goals. Don’t look now, but Kidd has these young Bucks out to a 7-5 record. Giannis Antetokounmpo (18 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists) and Jabari Parker (career-high 23 points, 7 rebounds) are quickly turning into a long, dangerous one-two punch on the wing while there is plenty of depth off the bench. In a conference where at least one team can sneak into the playoffs below .500, don’t discount the possibility of the Bucks finding their way in.

Suns 88 (7-5), Pistons 86 (3-9)

Even though they usually use their up-tempo, fast-paced offense to blitz past the competition, the Suns showed their ability to grind out games defensively. (Granted, it was against the lowly and lost Pistons.) The Suns held Detroit to only 37.9 percent shooting from the field, as well as just 7-25 (28 percent) on 3-pointers. In the ugly victory, Eric Bledsoe (18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals) and Goran Dragic (12 points, 4 assists) led the way for the Suns while P.J. Tucker (16 points, 7 rebounds, 6-8 from the field) looked very good in 30 minutes of play. After Dragic nailed a fadeaway jumper with 1:52, Phoenix held a 85-77 lead and looked to be in control. However, Kentavious-Caldwell Pope (15 points, 3 steals) and Brandon Jennings (19 points, 7 assists) made back-to-back-to-back bombs to quickly make this only a one-point deficit. After Bledsoe made a tough layup to put the Suns up by three, they won this game on the other end as Markieff Morris (10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals) came up with a huge swat on on a Jennings layup attempt to close this one out. Don’t expect the Suns to have consecutive slugfests as they take on the Sixers Friday night.

Raptors 96 (9-2), Grizzlies 92 (10-2)

What a great early matchup between the West’s best team and East’s best team in terms of records. This one didn’t disappoint in any way, even though the Grizzlies were without five of their players due to a stomach virus. Courtney Lee, Tony Allen, Kosta Koufos, Jon Leuer and Beno Udrih were all unavailable and spent time at a Toronto hospital Wednesday due to dehydration among other illnesses. The Grizzlies, though, grinding away as they always due, thanks to big-time play from big men Marc Gasol (22 points, 12 rebounds) and Zach Randolph (18 points, 18 rebounds). Mike Conley (19 points, 10 rebounds) also picked up a double-double along with his frontcourt as the Grizzlies controlled the boards 50-35. The Raptors matched this high-level of play with strong play from their guards as Kyle Lowry (18 points, 7 assists), DeMar DeRozan (21 points, 5 rebounds) and Terrence Ross (16 points, 3-6 on 3-pointers) all played their respectives roles. These three scored the final 11 Raptors points, including a clutch fadeaway jumper from Lowry with 8.9 seconds left in the game. Ross had poured in 14 of his 16 points in the final quarter before Lowry took care of business. Lou Williams (13 points, 17 minutes) has quietly been a consistent scoring punch of the bench for Toronto, reaching double-figures in seven of the past eight games. He fills out a very underrated and potent backcourt.

Timberwolves 115 (3-7), Knicks 99 (3-10)

Minnesota came into this game losers of their last five and without starters Ricky Rubio (ankle) and Nikola Pekovic (wrist). However, when you’re going up against the Knicks, anything is possible offensively. Shabazz Muhammad (17 points, 8 rebounds) got the nod for his first career start and he shined in this new role. He was active and flying all over the court, acting as the slasher for the offense. Mo Williams (14 points, 13 assists) easily had his best game of the season as Kevin Martin (37 points, 7-11 on 3-pointers) was on the receiving end of many of Williams’ assists. Martin might have one of the oddest shooting releases in the League, but he certainly makes it work consistently. Even though Martin is a veteran and hasn’t changed the way he plays up to this point in his career, if he rounded out his game just a little bit more, he would become much more highly valued and respected across the NBA. Carmelo Anthony (20 points, 4-5 on 3-pointers) and Amare Stoudemire (19 points) shot very well Wednesday night, but their teammates only managed to shoot 20-50 (40 percent) from the field. Defensively, their was little resistance as they allowed the Timberwolves to post a season-high 64 points in the first half.

Nuggets 107 (4-7), Thunder 100 (3-10)

Four seasons ago, this was an intriguing first-round matchup in the Western Conference playoffs. Now, these two below-.500 teams are still trying to figure out what direction they are headed in this year. Wednesday night, Brian Shaw survived another day in Denver thanks to Ty Lawson (15 points, 15 assists) and Wilson Chandler (21 points, 9 rebounds) having strong performances. Speedy-quick Lawson has shown he can be an elite point guard and Wilson has simply battled with so many injuries the past few years. When these two are clicking offensively, it’s difficult to beat Denver at the Pepsi Center. For the Thunder, Serge Ibaka (22 points, 13 rebounds) posted a double-double while Sebastian Telfair (18 points, 7-7 from the field, 4-4 on 3-pointers) didn’t miss a shot from the field. Reggie Jackson (16 points, 9 assists) might have stuffed the stat sheet, but he did take 20 shots just to get to 16 points. The Nuggets almost let this one get away as OKC cut a 94-81 early fourth-quarter deficit to only 101-98 with 3:19 to go. Chandler and Arron Afflalo (13 points) would make consecutive treys to put the Thunder away for good.

Lakers 98 (3-9), Rockets 92 (9-3)

Swaggy P has arrived to save the day. This might be mostly sarcastic, but the Lakers have suddenly gone 2-0 since Nick Young (16 points, 2 steals) returned from his injury. After L.A. lacked little energy through its first 10 games, Young has provided a spark and simply fun element back into this team. Kobe Bryant (29 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds) led the way for the Lakers, having one of his best all-around games of the season. He led the way in a 12-1 run to close out the game by converting a three-point play during the run. The Rockets, who were playing without Dwight Howard (knee), had their chances down the stretch but just couldn’t capitalize. James Harden (24 points, 7 assists, 7-11 from the field) had one of his most efficient games of the season but committed his sixth turnover with 45.9 seconds remaining, which led to a Wesley Johnson (9 points, 2 steals) layup that gave the Lakers the lead. Greek rookie Kostas Papanikolaou (career-high 19 points, 6 rebounds) had a career night in the loss. More than half of the Rockets’ field goal attempts came in the form of 3-pointers (38/74). After averaging 103.3 points in their first eight games, the Rockets have plummeted to only 85.5 in their past four. They have now dropped back-to-back games for the first time this season.

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Young finished with 17 points, and provided his usual dose of postgame entertainment.

Per the LA Times:

“It’s like my swag just rubbed off on everybody,” he said after bringing some desperately needed scoring to the Lakers.

 

Kobe Bryant had 28 points on 10-for-18 shooting, Carlos Boozer had 20 points and Jordan Hill scored 18. Young had 17 points and Jeremy Lin added 15. […] “I thought it was excellent,” said Bryant, who made more than 45% of his shots for the first time this season. He also become the fourth NBA player to score 32,000 points, now perched 291 behind Michael Jordan.

 

Young was the opposite, eager to stimulate debate by happily putting himself No. 1 on the list of greatest shooters of all time. […] “It might be me at the top,” he said. “Me, Ray Allen, Reggie [Miller], then I might throw in one of the players from Golden State. It depends.”

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Swaggy P is back on the floor, and the Lakers won their second game of the season. According to the man himself…

Nick Young returns, Lakers finally notch 2nd win of the season. Young: “It’s like my swag just rubbed off on everybody. It was unbelievable.

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) November 19, 2014

Nick Young (17 points and 5 rebounds) returned to his team last night after recovering from a thumb injury suffered during training camp. While he definitey contributed to the Lakers’ win, he had a lot of help. Kobe Bryant (28 points) became the fourth player in NBA history to hit the 32,000-point milestone last night. Three more Lakers recorded double-doubles—Jeremy Lin (15 points and 10 assists), Jordan Hill (18 points and 10 rebounds), and Carlos Boozer (20 points and 10 rebounds)—to hand the Hawks their first home loss.

Even with the multiple solid performances and a 17-point lead, the game in Atlanta went down to the wire. After heading into the locker room trailing by 15 at the half, the Hawks made sure to go on a run (13-0) in the third quarter. They were down three points with a little over seven seconds remaining in the fourth, but Pero Antic’s shot from the arc missed as the clock expired. Paul Millsap (29 points) had the game-high to lead the Hawks, and Jeff Teague (23 points) completed this awesome slam:

Bucks 117 (6-5), Knicks 113 (3-9)

Another double-digit lead last night was almost thrown away. This time, a 26-point advantage by the Milwaukee Bucks, who hosted the New York Knicks. In the second quarter, Ersan Ilyasova (20 points), Zaza Pachulia (14 points and 13 rebounds) and the rest of the Bucks held the Knicks to just 19 points—and put up a mighty 36 themselves. The Young Bucks continued their fun in the third quarter, opening up with a 27-8 run and headed into the final 12 minutes with what you’d think was a comfortable 15-point lead.

Then the Knicks finally showed up again, going on a run to cut Milwaukee’s lead to a mere two points with 12.9 seconds left on the clock. This reverse dunk courtesy of Iman Shumpert (21 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals) was the highlight of that run:

The run wasn’t enough for the Knicks though, who dropped to 3-9. To make things worse, Carmelo Anthony’s (26 points) sore left knee that acted up as early as the Knicks win in Cleveland on October 30 isn’t doing much better after he hit the floor trying to get a loose ball. The Bucks, however, gained a welcome W to get over the .500 mark.

Jazz 98 (5-7), Thunder 81 (3-9)

Talk about a massive point-turnaround! After trailing by 17 halfway through the second quarter, the Jazz took the lead by as many as 20 near the end of the game. After his team was outscored 23-14 in first quarter by a visiting squad with a losing record, Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder went off at his players in the second.

He got a technical. Usually a T doesn’t help anyone on the team that received it, but in this case—it did. The Jazz did wake up and held the Thunder to just 19 and 17 points in the second and third quarters respectively. All five of the Jazz starters ended up scoring double-figures. Alec Burks (20 points and 14 rebounds) and Enes Kanter (16 points and 15 rebounds) in particular had standout games with their strong double-doubles. Jeremy Lamb (19 points) was the high-scorer for OKC, but Utah owned in the paint 42-26 to send the Thunder away with a third consecutive loss.

Pelicans 106 (6-4), Kings 100 (6-5)

In a battle between two big men, who’d be the one to lead his team to victory?

Anthony Davis (28 points and 9 rebounds), that’s who. While DeMarcus Cousins (24 points and 17 rebounds) had a huge game at home for the Kings, another #3rdQofDoom reared its ugly head. Ryan Anderson’s (22 points) shot started out cold, but he hit three 3-pointers off the bench in the third period to help New Orleans outscore Sacramento 31-15. The Pelicans continued their solid play in the fourth, but the home team wouldn’t go away easily. Sac went on a run to trim the deficit to three points with just over a minute left in the game. Tyreke Evans responded with a pretty turnaround jumper. The Kings then turned the ball over and missed shots, while the Pels hit free-throws to finish the game for good.

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Los Angeles Lakers forward Nick Young got upset after Snoop Dogg (or is it Snoop Lion now?) cruelly poked fun at and profanely insulted his girlfriend, the pop star Iggy Azalea.

This began when an image of Iggy (sans makeup) started making the rounds online Tuesday. Snoop, a huge Laker fan, can often be seen sitting courtside at Staples Center during the season … awkward:

These old heads turnin into sucka's ..

— Nick Young (@NickSwagyPYoung) October 15, 2014

Ain't nobody worried about no SnoopLion .. This dude Just goin thru a midlife Crisis you Go get convertible yet . OG's out here losin

— Nick Young (@NickSwagyPYoung) October 15, 2014

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