Nick Young reacts to seeing the crowd around teammate Kobe Bryant on media day in El Segundo, Calif., on Sep. 29, 2014. The Lakers open their season on Oct. 29 against the Houston Rockets. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images file)
NEW YORK — The itinerary seemed set for Nick Young on how he would spend his time in the Big Apple.
He would sport Kobe Bryant’s “Kobe X’s” Nike shoes that won’t release to the general public until Feb. 6. Young would live up to Bryant’s message, as Lakers equipment manager Carlos Maples told it, “not to embarrass his a– with his new shoe when the Lakers visited the New York Knicks on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. Then, Young would enjoy the Lakers’ off-day on Monday in New York City shopping to add to his “Swaggy P” wardrobe.
But Young’s plans have gotten off to a bad start. Young did not play in the Lakers’ 92-80 loss on Sunday to the Knicks at MSG officially listed as a coach’s decision. Lakers coach Byron Scott revealed beforehand that Young received clearance to play after nursing a sprained right ankle that kept him out for the last two games. But Scott wanted Young to complete a full practice to show that his ankle could withstand the running and hard cutting.
Yet, Young still called it “very disappointing” he did not play.
“It’s very tough, especially coming back and wanting to play in the Garden and be a part of the team,” Young said. “You’re disappointed in not playing.”
Incidentally, Young only nine minutes and sat the entire second half in the Lakers’ loss last week to Houston because of Scott’s dislike over Young’s effort level and body language. Before that, Scott often pushed Young to adopt better practice habits and make a better effort to round out his game after spending the past month shooting only 32.2 percent from the field.
“I don’t know what’s going on,” Young said. “I felt good today. We’ll see what happens.”
How would Young characterize his relationship with Scott?
“I don’t know,” Young said.
But Young dismissively shook his head on Scott’s explanation that he wanted to protect his ankle and see how it would respond in Tuesday’s practice in Milwaukee before the Lakers play there on Wednesday.
“I would’ve sat out,” Young countered if his ankle did not receive medical clearance. “But it’s not my decision. I’m going to go with the flow.”
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