Nick Young is back in Los Angeles! The Lakers have signed former L.A. Clippers Nick Young, who was with the Philadelphia 76ers last season. The guard signed with the Lakers for the one-year veteran minimum of $1.2 million dollars. Not only did Young play for the Clippers, but he is an L.A. native and played in college at USC as well. He is sure to make a connection with Lakers fans this coming season. Young is also reuniting with his high school and UCLA Bruin rival, Jordan Farmar. Farmar was recently signed to come back to the Lakers as they are in the process of buying out his contract from his Turkish team.
Kobe has always been an idol of Young’s since he grew up in Los Angeles. Nick is excited to play with the Lakers star and remains hopeful for his role on the team. Young averaged 10.6 points off the bench this past season for the Philadelphia 76ers. Although usually thought of as a guard, the Lakers are planning to use Young at the small forward position. With Metta World Peace not returning next season, Nick will probably have a bigger role on this Lakers team. He is usually a reserve player.
The seventh annual Kobe Basketball Academy started Wednesday on the campus of UC Santa Barbara, which is a camp where youths from the ages of eight to 18-year-olds get a chance to showcase their talents and learn from Kobe and his talented coaching staff. After Kobe’s Basketball Academy is over, he will take a few weeks off before heading to Abu Dhabi and Dubai to raise awareness for diabetes on September 26th and 27th. Kobe’s first stop in the UAE will be to the capital on the 26th of September, where he will be coaching youths in a basketball skills clinic. Bryant will then be leading the team warm-up and coaching the celebrity basketball game at the American University in Dubai on September 27th. Just another way the Lakers’ star gives back.
Suki Thind of Lakers Nation wrote an exceptional piece today on how to get Kobe Bryant playing another 3-4 years. Kobe sat down with Lakers Nation’s Serena Winters and explained how the injury has “rejuvenated” him by putting in perspective just how precious being able to play is. Suki says the type of will and determination in Kobe’s DNA coupled with the elite skill-set he possesses would enable him to maintain his elite status for the remainder of his career. But can the Black Mamba conquer the Achilles injury, play three more seasons, and win two more championships? Check out what Suki lays down and make an assessment for yourself.
Shaq was featured in a new Reebok commercial with rap artist Tyga. The commercial is great, but one Twitter fan today reminded me of this 1993 Reebok ad featuring the big man early in his career.
@ajmoyal This will always be the best Shaq Reebok commercial. http://t.co/hSiJ3y8gY2
— Erkki Corpuz (@ewcorpuz) July 12, 2013
Not sure which one I like better, but the phrase “don’t fake the funk on a nasty dunk” will forever be included in my vernacular.
Lakers Nation News
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Lakers News: Nick Young Returns Home, Idolized Kobe
Nick Young Talks About Dwight Howard Willingly Leaving Lakers
Lakers News: Lakers Plan To Use Nick Young At The Small Forward
Lakers News: Kobe To Host A Diabetes Awareness Event In The UAE
After Metta, Lakers Future Financial Situation Begins Taking Shape
The Recipe For Kobe Bryant Playing For 3-4 More Seasons
Lakers News: Nick Young Returning To His Los Angeles Roots
Lakers News
Lakers Announce Las Vegas Summer League Roster [Silver Screen and Roll]
Dwight’s Camp Asked About Kobe amnesty [Silver Screen and Roll]
What is the Lakers’ Current Payroll Situation? [Silver Screen and Roll]
Ryan Kelly Injury, Minimum 6 weeks Before Running, Jumping [Silver Screen and Roll]
Metta World Peace’s Best Memories with the Lakers [Silver Screen and Roll]
Lakers to Sign Free Agent Nick Young [Forum Blue and Gold]
Lakers Make Chris Kaman Signing Official [Lakers Now]
Lakers Sign Nick Young [THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS]
Steve Nash Says Dwight Howard Never Wanted to be a Laker [For the Win]
Los Angeles Lakers Waste Entire Mid-Level Exception on Chris Kaman [SB Nation]
Lakers Waive Metta World Peace Under Amnesty Provision [THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS]
Kobe Bryant Believes Los Angeles Lakers Extension No Problem [ESPN Los Angeles]
Lakers a ‘Dream Come True’ for Nick Young [Lakers Now]
Peace Out: Lakers waive Metta World Peace [Yahoo Sports]
Bill Simmons on What’s Wrong with the Lakers [Grantland]
Robert Sacre, Josh Selby Headline Lakers’ Las Vegas Summer Roster [LA Times]
Los Angeles Lakers Waive Metta World Peace Using Amnesty Provision, Ending a Weird, Amazing Era [Ball Don’t Lie]
Dwight Howard’s Departure Opens Huge Opportunity for Jordan Hill [Forum Blue and Gold]
Grass-Fed Tim [NBA.com]
Waived Metta World Peace Tweets Plans to Play for Kings, Dodgers [Lakers Now]
Can Lakers Go California Dream Teaming? [Hang Time Blog]
Lakers’ Kobe Bryant is Moving on From Dwight Howard’s Departure [LA Times]
NBA News
No problem at small forward with Pelicans [Yahoo! Sports]
NBA Teams’ Las Vegas Summer League to Offer Title for First Time [LA Times]
Andre Iguodala addition ‘transformative’ for Golden State Warriors [ESPN]
Kirilenko signs multi-year deal with Nets [NBA.com]
Hawks have 3 days to match Bucks’ offer to Teague [Yahoo! Sports]
Thorn Returns As NBA ‘Top Cop,’ Jackson Steps Down After 13 Years [Hang Time Blog]
Nets Are Optimistic and Expensive [NYTimes.com]
Analyzing Andrew Bynum to Cleveland Cavaliers [ESPN]
Iguodala’s arrival signals turning point for Warriors [NBA.com]
Knicks Try to Keep Pace in Beefed-Up Eastern Conference [NYTimes.com]
Reports: Nets agree to sign Andrei Kirilenko to two-year deal [The Point Forward]
Bobcats consider sign-and-trade offers for Gerald Henderson after contract negotiations stall [Yahoo! Sports]
Best and worst of NBA offseason thus far [ESPN]
Martin sent to Wolves in three-team swap [NBA.com]
Timberwolves, Turiaf agree on 2-year, $3.2M deal [Yahoo! Sports]