He's a champion coach for the Big3. But he definitely should've had a better career and I believe him playing on the Wizards was absolutely the reason.
I don’t care what anybody says dude was a bucket and was simply a blast to watch them couple of years he played on the lakers. He was the sole reason I was able to watch them god awful teams. I remember him going bucket for bucket with the Miami heat in 2013 on Christmas Day swaggy p you’ll always hold a spot in my heart for keeping my Lakers relevant those years.
Yup. I’m a die hard laker fan and that Christmas game I remember vividly. One of his best games for sure. Nick Young was the best player that year when Kobe was out
I watched every game those two terrible seasons were some dark days. But when we had that first young core of dlo, Clarkson, nance, and Randle. They showed flashes of what they became and they made it fun to watch.
One of my favorite Nick Young stories is that Gilbert Arenas faked an injury so Nick Young could get more playing time in the preseason, openly admitted it in an interview, and was immediately fined and suspended lmao
That’s when Gil was a shell of himself, and that helped Nick Young crack the starting rotation. He owes his whole career to Arenas, otherwise he would have been buried on that bench until it was time to sign an extension.
His personality got some of Lakers fans through a tough transition period for the franchise. I remember he showed occasional flashes of brilliance on the Clippers too.
He definitely could’ve had a better career if he applied himself, but his ceiling would’ve been an elite 6th man like Lou Will or Jamal Crawford, but he still had a solid career
I disagree I think Nick had legit top 5 at his position level talent had he applied himself nick could have been in that Convo with lavine beal butler etc.
Been waiting for this one! Swaggy is one of my favorite players and that shot is so silky smooth. He was good, but you know he didn't have a work ethic. Loved the spotlight and hollywood instead of hooping 😅
AGREED.But,after pro ball the spotlight -DIMS-and-hollyweird stops paying attention to you. And,so do all those celebrities who you thought were your friends,but,aren't. You're just another ex-nba-player who didn't save/invest his earnings after a decade in the league.
He use to come in my neighborhood when I was teen his then best friend was living in my apartment complex… he would play 21 with us & dude was the truth definitely could’ve been something special if he perfective his craft.
In actuality. Any person who has ever played in the nba, has the capacity to be an all-time great and goat-like for their position. Its all based on work ethic but more importantly the player's situation, so if you dont have crazy hype, where you can play in a style advantageous to your strength and get proper development, then it's really luck based. All these dudes are beyond talented. Think all the dudes who scored 30points+, never to be seen again or sent to the G league, because the situation wasn't right. Player situation will also have a huge impact on their in-game confidence too.
Young did have good size for a shooting guard. He only measured 6-5, without shoes, at the NBA Draft Combine but he has a 7-0 wingspan. I've never seen Young not smiling and goofing off. You nailed...he was never serious about bball.
Facts Nick Young could have been that guy but people have to realize that the NBA is just a job too a lot of dudes and once they get there they feel accomplished.
Nick Young and Gabe Pruitt didn't get the hype at SC that credit that Aaron Afflalo and Jordan Farmar got at UCLA but anyone that watched the game knew that Young and Pruitt were better.
Blaming nick young for that trash lakers team is crazy 😂 Nick actually tried winning. Dangelo russell snitching helped derail alot too. But thats later. He played to win not just look good. Those teams was trash without kobe.
Best shooting guard of his generation?? Nick young was a very talented scorer, but I don’t remember anybody anywhere putting his potential on THAT level. Let’s just say best case scenario that he took his career entirely serious like a Jayson Tatum or Devin Booker. I’m still not sure that he would have been more than a 2-time All-Star type guy. To me I think his ideal role would’ve been as a 6th man off the bench, like a Lou Williams or Jamal Crawford. Which would have kept him in the league for 15-20 years but as far as being a perennial all-star or transcendent guy or future HOF? Or best shooting guard of his generation? Nah I don’t see THAT 😂
Swaggy p was a bucket His time with the wizards and the lakers are the most memorable But definitely his early years with the wizards under agent zeros wing wasn’t good for development
Dude was from the hood lost his brother to gang violence.. dropped outta school … barely got into USC … and made the league got some rings … he over succeeded
JR Smith was better and both didn't live up to what they could have been. They should have challenged Kobe and Wade for the top SG spot till Harden got in his prime.
theres so many players with limitless talent, that just don't care after they secure that first contract. thats what really separate the kobe, jordan, lebrons of the world from regular players
Nick Young was super talented, and at times you could see his potential. His personality is great, but maybe to a fault when it came to being serious about his career.
Exactly because if I’m correct you are a failure if you don’t have a championship I believe he has a chip and 12 years he’s qualified for 409,000 nba pension he’s not even close to being broke either so you are wrong it’s not stunted growth it’s not what you wanted but he’s not even close to stunted growth
It's crazy cuz gil admitted he show him how to take the game serious and he kinda upset about but man after gil left he came on a team with kobe and he was still bullshitting 😂😂 man's just was to carefree
How about making a growth spurt series, discussing how some players who were not expected to be good/great become who they are now ie Butler, Marc Gasol, Jokic, draymond, etc
Nick Young was dope. Great talent and like you said he got drafted by the wizards at a bad time. If only and if only if the Lakers had drafted him and he was a rookie under Kobe. His career would have been different
