Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott has said that reserve guard Nick Young “is not with [the Lakers] mentally” after the D’Angelo Russell video incident.
The D’Angelo Russell video incident involving the many conquests of teammate Nick Young has made the Los Angeles Lakers into the laughingstock of the NBA’s Western Conference. While Russell honestly apologized for the video being leaked, it seems that Young has “mentally checked out” on the 2015-16 Lakers.
Young was inactive for the Lakers’ game Sunday night versus the rival Boston Celtics. Instead of supporting his teammates on the bench in a suit and tie, Young reportedly opted to view the game from inside the Staples Center locker room.
Lakers head coach Byron Scott told Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News that Young is “not here mentally with us” and opened up about the Lakers’ reasoning behind making Young inactive for Sunday night’s game. Scott added, “It was strictly a basketball decision. I know how he’s feeling right now. He’s not really here with us.”
Los Angeles is reportedly trying to ship their sixth man this summer in a trade probably before the 2016 NBA Draft. However, Young’s aloofness as a professional and that he is on the wrong side of 30 may severely limit any trade value he could offer the Lakers in return.
As for Scott saying he knows how Young feels right now, when did Scott have a teammate of his from the Showtime Lakers reveal countless affairs to the world, compromising his engagement to an Australian pop star/rapper?
While it isn’t professional to shun teammates during a game by opting to watch it from the locker room on TV as opposed to riding pine with the other non-starters, it’s understandable for Young’s frustrations with the Lakers organization, as they have sided with the young player who took the video in the first place.
Entering the 2016-17 two things are certain: 1.) Young won’t be on the Lakers. 2.) Russell will be the new face of the franchise as the up-and-coming star point guard after the aging Kobe Bryant retires at season’s end. It’s up in the air if Young has played his final game as an NBA professional.
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