Before ultimately signing with the Los Angeles Lakers in the off-season, Nick Young was considered a hot commodity on the free agent market. The Lakers expressed interest in the veteran journeyman, but few believed he’d sign with the team for considerably less than he’d get elsewhere.
Fortunately for the Lakers, Young was a huge fan of the team growing up and jumped at the opportunity to wear the purple and gold for at least one season.
With 27 games in the books as a Laker, Young is loving the experience in Los Angeles with the iconic franchise and said the following about playing for the organization via SlamOnline.com:
“The Clippers got a lot of hype with all the highlights they do. Obviously, they got a better record than us right now,” he says, “but Lakers is tradition. I grew up being a Laker fan. The city always being Lakers fans. I remember going to the Laker parades after winning Championships. It’s nothing like being a Laker. It changed my view of the NBA right now, being a Laker.”
Asked to elaborate, he says, “We’re rockstars over here [laughs]. It’s been fun, I’m enjoying it.”
During his short time with the Lakers, Young has made a considerable impression while helping shoulder the load for the injured Kobe Bryant. The veteran is averaging a team-high 15.4 points per game and is quickly becoming the one of the best offensive players on the squad.
After the 2013-14 NBA season, Young will have a player option to return next season for $1.2 million. With Young playing at a high level at this point in time, the USC alum will definitely increase his value on the open market, but might chose to stick around for another season as he is clearly enjoying his time with the Lakers.
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Lakers Coach D’Antoni Describes Nick Young’s SWAG, “He Starts Swaggin Or Something”
