One of the key storylines in Lakerland last season came at the end of the season after rookie D’Angelo Russell used social media to broadcast a conversation with teammate Nick Young that was thought to be private. The aftermath of the incident created an uncomfortable situation for both players as well as the team at large. Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News recently caught up with Young, who says he is trying to move on from the situation:
Uncertainty hovers over Nick Young regarding his future with the Lakers. His personal life also has played out like a soap opera on celebrity gossip sites.
Despite that backdrop, Young walked out of Los Angeles Southwest College on Sunday evening bearing his signature smile. The reasons went beyond helping his Drew League team secure a playoff victory that ensures another postseason appearance next week.
Young also seemed at peace surrounding an incident that fueled frustration throughout a taxing 2015-16 season. Young maintained he no longer harbors animosity toward Lakers second-year guard D’Angelo Russell, who secretly recorded Young on his phone admitting to infidelities with rapper and former fiancee Iggy Azalea. When the video accidentally became public late last season, Young was not initially receptive toward Russell’s efforts to apologize.
Young has since dismissed concerns on whether he could coexist with Russell, who represents a significant part of the Lakers’ young roster.
“We’re teammates,” Young told the Southern California News Group. “It’s been so long, so it’s kind of old.
“We’ll be able to work it out. We’ve already been working it out. It is what it is. I can’t be mad forever.”
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He averaged 7.3 points last season on a career-low 33.9 percent clip. Young and Azalea then announced this summer on social media they had broken up.
Young sounded uncertain whether the Lakers will buy out his two-year contract worth $11 million before training camp starts in late September.
Young indirectly outlined reasons for the Lakers to consider giving him another chance. He reported devoting plenty of his offseason toward improving his strength and conditioning. After clashing the past two seasons with then-Lakers coach Byron Scott about his public criticisms and role, Young sounded thrilled about Luke Walton’s subsequent hiring.
“It’s a breath of fresh air for me,” Young said of Walton, who spent the past two seasons as a Golden State Warriors assistant. “Luke is a big-time coach and came from a championship team. I think I have the tools that we can use as a shooter.”
Young added he sensed “good vibes” after talking with Walton a “couple of times” about his possible role. But does that mean the Lakers might plan on keeping Young?
“I left the conversations feeling good. But at the end of the day, I don’t know,” Young said. “We’ll see. I hear so much. You don’t know what to believe.”
